Ouagadougou: The Ouagadougou Regional Council of the National Order of Pharmacists announced on Tuesday the strengthening of the on-call system for pharmacies in the Kadiogo region by mobilizing, from July to November, 60 additional pharmacies every weekend in order to improve access to medicines for the population during the period of high demand linked to the rainy season.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Dr. Kafando Emery Isouf Patrick, president of the Ouagadougou Regional Council of the National Order of Pharmacists, stated that strengthening the on-call system, which will increase the number of pharmacies mobilized each weekend from 60 to 120, will have no impact on the price of medicines. "Every year, between July and November, the rainy season is marked by a resurgence of diseases such as malaria, diarrheal diseases and other seasonal illnesses, leading to a high demand on pharmacies," he explained during a press conference.
He reminded everyone that under normal circumstances, pharmacies are divided into four on-call groups that take turns each week. The designated pharmacies provide continuous service 24 hours a day, from Saturday at noon until the following Saturday at noon.
As part of the exceptional arrangement, 60 other pharmacies are providing support on Saturdays and Sundays, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., in order to strengthen health coverage during the weekends. For the president, this initiative aims to bring medicines closer to the population, reduce the distances to travel to find an open pharmacy, decrease waiting times and better distribute patients among the mobilized pharmacies.
The Regional Council also assured that this reinforcement will not lead to any increase in the price of medicines, with prices remaining unchanged despite the additional costs borne by pharmacies. Dr. Kafando indicated that this organization requires a significant mobilization of pharmacists, pharmacy assistants and aides, as well as a strengthening of drug stocks, supplies, logistics and security measures.
The Ouagadougou Regional Council of the Order of Pharmacists covers the Kadiogo, Nando, Oubri, Yaadga, and Nazinon regions, under the coordination of the National Council of the Order of Pharmacists. However, the exceptional on-call reinforcement measures announced at this press conference apply exclusively to pharmacies in Greater Ouagadougou, that is, the city of Ouagadougou and the surrounding municipalities of Saaba, Koubri, Loumbila, and Pabre.