Skip to main content

Table 1 Application of the structured set of indicators for assessing governance of the promotion of prescription medicines and anti-corruption in Ghana

From: Assessing national governance of medicine promotion: an exploratory study in Ghana to trial a structured set of indicators

Indicator

Ghana

a) Governance of Prescription Medicines

 National Medicines Policy

Yes [22]

 National Medicines List

Yes [23]

  - Date of most recent update

Not specified

  - Does it specify the manufacturer name?

Yes

  - Does it specify the country of manufacture?

No

 Essential Medicines List

Yes [24]

 Medicine regulations include pharmaceutical promotion and advertising

Yes [25]

 Medicines Regulatory Authority (MRA)

Yes - FDA

 National code/guideline for the ethical promotion of prescription pharmaceuticals

Yes [26]

  Does the code explicitly mention?

   - Healthcare professionals

No

   - Medical institutions

No

   - Patient organizations

No

   - Medical representatives

No

   - The general public

Yes

   - Media

Yes

  Does it cover the following forms of promotion?

   - Direct-to-consumer advertising

Yes

   - Disease awareness campaigns

No

   - Interactions with medical representatives

No

   - Speakers fees and consultancies

No

   - Continuing education sponsorship

No

   - Prescription samples

No

   - Patient information

No

   - Packaging, labeling and package inserts

No

   - Promotion of off-label indications

Yes

   - Gift-giving

Yes

  Is pre-approval required?

Yes

  Does the pre-approval submission require the following information:

[27]

   - International non-proprietary name (INN)

Yes

   - Brand name

Yes

   - Company name

Yes

   - Major indications for use

No

   - Adverse effects

Yes

   - Contraindications

No

   - Medicine interactions

No

   - Cost

No

  Is monitoring in force?

Yes

  Is there a formal mechanism for lodging a complaint?

No

  Are enforcement and sanctions stated?

No

  Are violations publicly available?

Yes

 Is there a government-sponsored, unbiased source of drug information?

No

 National Pharmaceutical Industry Association

Yes [28]

  - Represent multi-national manufacturers

No

  - Represent national manufacturers

Yes

  - Associated with IFPMA

No

  - Code of conducts specific to ethical promotion

No

b) Health Care Professional Codes and Regulations

 National Pharmacy College Code of Conduct specific to ethical promotion

Yes [29]

 National Physician College Code of Conduct

No [30]

c) Anti-Corruption Governance

 Signing of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC)

Yes [31]

 Signing of UN Convention on Human Rights

17/18 treaties [32]

 National Anti-Corruption Law(s)

Yes [33]

 African Union Convention on Preventing and Combatting Corruption

Yes [34]

 Economic Community of West African States Protocol on Corruption

Yes [35]

 National Anti-Corruption Strategy

Yes [36]

 National Anti-Corruption Commission

Yes [37]

 National Law on Freedom of Information

No

 Whistleblower Protection

Yes [38]

 Transparency Laws

No

 Code of Conduct for Civil Servants

Yes [39]

 Ethical Principles for Civil Servants

For GHS [40]

d) Indexes

 Corruption Perception Index (Transparency International)

40; 81/180 countries [41]

 Regional and/or National Indexes (if available)

IIAG 65; 8/54 [42]