CPL SUPPORTS 8TH PHAMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF PNG BIENNIAL CONFERENCE

By Vonu Libitino, Port Moresby

The upcoming Pharmaceutical Society of Papua New Guinea (PSPNG) Biennial Conference 2024 will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby, from the 22nd to the 24th of October, 2024.

Coming onboard to support this 8th edition of the Biennial Conference was City Pharmacy Limited (CPL) with K20 000 sponsorship which included merchandise of 600 lanyards and 300 merchandise.

Speaking during the presentation of the sponsorship, CPL’s Head of Pharmacy Mr Pradeep Panda said It has been a privilege to be associated with the PSPNG, not just in this year’s conference, but the past 7 conferences as well.

“As you all know, City Pharmacy Limited (CPL) is a very diversified group today, and one of the largest retailers in the country.

However, at the core and the heart [we] remain as City Pharmacy…and when you talk about pharmacy, no pharmacy retail or business can run without a pharmacist… that is the importance of a pharmacist.

That is the reason why we endeavor to support local pharmacists and why we [CPL] continue to look at how we can build and groom our local pharmacists,’’ Mr Panda said.

Mr Panda went onto explain one of the challenges; that of the shortage of pharmacists in PNG.

“The School of Medicine does not produce enough pharmacists, to cater for the private and public sector needs.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has one of the lowest ratios of pharmacist to people, in this country; it is .07/10000 people, while Australia has 30 pharmacists for every 10 000 people,” CPL’s Head Pharmacist said.

Mr Panda said pharmacists play a vitally important role not just in dispensary of medicine but also in creating awareness on diseases.

“Pharmacists are the backbone of the healthcare system in this country and that is why we [CPL] always comes out to support any pharmaceutical event in the country,” Mr Panda declared.

CPL through Mr Panda, also extended their gratitude to the PSPNG as well as all society members, for their hard work under the National Department of Health (NDoH) for continuing to impact quality health care to the people of PNG.

On hand to receive CPL’s sponsorship were the PSPNG Executive Committee, which included the President Mr Omega Manua, Vice-President Judith Nui, Secretary Christy Wai & Conference Committee Chair Jonila Kepas.

First up to speak from the PSPNG was the 2024 Biennial Conference Chairlady Jonila Kepas, who thanked CPL for supporting this year’s conference that will be held under the theme of ‘’Strengthening Pillars of the Pharmacy through Collaboration, Technology and Community Help.’

“We have always been supported by CPL. Not just with this conference but CPL also supported us in the recently held World Pharmacy Day and we are always grateful for their support,” Jonila Kepas said.

Rounding off the speeches in today’s brief conference was PSPNG President Mr Omega Manua, who started off with a word of acknowledgment and gratitude to the founder of CPL, Sir Mahesh Patel, for being the society’s Patron.

“It is a privilege to have CPL as a lead sponsor and for supporting the service of pharmacy and pharmacist personnel… And they have always contributed enormously to the hosting of the Biennial Conference,” the PSPNG President said.

Mr Manua also acknowledged that all of the PSPNG’s achievements in the past 3 years, were guided by Sir Mahesh Patel and he thanked the CPL Founder as well as CPL for this support while also highlighting the need for more of such collaborations and partnerships, to advance the practice of pharmacy in PNG.