By Buba Gagigo
The Gambian government has revoked Atlantic Pharmacy’s license following the presidential task force’s recommendation on Acute Kidney Injury (AKI).
The presidential task force report recommended that the government of The Gambia permanently revoke the importation license issued to Atlantic Pharmacy Company Limited and their directors.
“The license of Atlantic Pharmacy Company Limited has been permanently revoked,” the minister of health, Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh said.
The Presidential Task Force also recommended that the government, through the Pharmacy Council, Ministry of Higher Education Research Science and Technology, and the University of The Gambia, prioritize the establishment of a School of Pharmacy at the University of The Gambia to meet the growing demand for pharmacists in the country.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmadou Samateh, also announced that the process for establishing a school of pharmacy at the University of The Gambia has begun. He said that advertisements for the recruitment of consultants to develop the curriculum will soon be released and that the initial phase of the project is being funded by the World Bank.
“Preliminary discussions in this line have also been held with the WHO Director General, which will be followed up urgently. Other possibilities with other partners and potential partners will be explored,” the minister said.
The Task Force’s report recommended that the Government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Health, review the laws and regulations governing the issuance of import licenses. The report also recommended that the government impose stringent conditions to ensure that importers are approved based on their qualifications and operate with a sense of accountability and responsibility, rather than being solely motivated by profit.
“The Ministry of Health has retained an experienced firm that is currently carrying out a review of all the health-related legislation in The Gambia. This will be carried out as part of this ongoing review of the acts under the MOH,” the ministry said.