The contribution is designated for health centres in regions affected by the recent cholera outbreak.

The provision of CRF has been essential in treating patients suffering from severe dehydration caused by cholera, significantly reducing mortality rates. 

Cholera

Cholera, a bacterial infection, presents symptoms such as frequent diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration, abdominal cramps, fever, headache, fatigue, dry mouth, and decreased urine output.

Without prompt treatment, severe cases can be fatal within hours, underscoring the critical need for immediate medical intervention.

The GHS said as of December 31, 2024, there had been 4,850 suspected cholera cases across the Greater Accra, Eastern, Central, Ashanti, and Western Regions.

The outbreak has resulted in 40 fatalities, with 398 individuals currently receiving treatment.

The last significant cholera epidemic in Ghana occurred between 2011 and 2015.

The Chief Executive Officer  of Atlantic Lifesciences, Dhananjay Tripathi, assured the GHS that the company had sufficient CRF stock to meet the nation's needs.

He emphasised the importance of bolstering local pharmaceutical manufacturing to ensure readiness for such health emergencies.

"Atlantic Lifesciences operates a state-of-the-art sterile pharmaceutical plant equipped with two German Rommelag machines, capable of producing 200,000 infusion bottles daily, using fully automated Blow-Fill-Seal technology," stated Mr Tripathi.

"Our 24-hour operations enable us to produce sufficient quantities of CRF for timely delivery to the Ghana Health Service. Without local manufacturing capabilities, reliance on imports could have led to critical delays and increased fatalities," he added.

Challenges

This situation highlights the necessity of strengthening Ghana's local pharmaceutical industry. Currently, approximately 40 per cent of the nation's medicine supply is produced domestically, with the remaining 60 per cent imported, primarily from India and China.  

Industry players say challenges such as higher production costs and the absence of facilities compliant with World Health Organisation standards hinder the growth of local manufacturers.

Enhancing local production capabilities is vital for ensuring timely access to essential medicines during health crises.

A robust domestic pharmaceutical sector not only improves public health response times but also contributes to economic growth, job creation, and universal health coverage.

Atlantic Lifesciences' proactive intervention during this cholera outbreak serves as a compelling example of the critical role local pharmaceutical companies play in safeguarding public health and ensuring health security of the nation.

The company’s management said a continued investment and support for the domestic pharmaceutical industry were imperative to enhance Ghana's capacity to be self-reliant in responding to future health emergencies effectively.