The Pharmaceutical Society of Cameroon, like any association that groups professionals, is bound by a code of ethics which guides the conduct of members. Meeting in Yaounde for their annual meeting, members of the council are fine-tuning ways of bringing back the glories old days of the profession.
The National President of the council, Dr Nkwenti Davidson Achu, in a speech at the opening of the event yesterday February 17 at the Yaoundé Conference Centre, said the non-respect of ethics and the illicit sale of drugs remain their major worry. He revealed that some pharmacies operate in illegality and all efforts to raise awareness so they can be closed down by competent powers remain futile. Not only do some operate in illegality but others are engaged in dangerous and dubious acts that continue to rock the sector. With this and other problems, the council in this year’s annual meeting decided to place their reflection around the theme “Pharmacists and the respect of professional ethic”. They expressed the desire for a guideline of essential drugs to be put at the disposal of pharmacists.As an advisory board, the National Pharmaceutical Society has opted for the education of the public on the dangers of consuming illicit drugs which in most cases are poisonous. Though the indiscriminate use of drugs continues to grow in spite of efforts by government and the associations, the council says they will not take chances with the fight against the purchase and consumption of illicit drugs amongst Cameroonians.
Dr Nkwenti Davidson Achu noted with dissatisfaction that FCFA 25 out of 53 million promised by the Ministry of Public Health as subvention had been received. The council, in the nearest future, hopes to construct their headquarters at the Elig-Effa neighbourhood where 2,000 hectares of land is already at their disposal.
The opening ceremony was chaired yesterday by the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Public Health Alim Hayatou. The annual meeting ends today with the election of new board members into the society.
