Author: [AUTHOR] Published on 8/1/2025 12:00:00 AM
Patrick Owusu-Danso, MSc, Chief Regulatory Officer, Food and Drugs Authority, Accra, AA, Ghana
What does being an LMIC Accelerator Cohort Member mean to you?
It is a great opportunity for me to meet the global community of practicing clinical pharmacologists in diverse areas, to learn from their experience, and integrate better into this network of experts. I am very grateful to the leadership of ASCPT for being selected to be part of the maiden program.
What are you looking forward to in your time as part of the LMIC Accelerator Cohort?
Hoping to be offered participation in the mentorship program to receive first-hand mentoring from an expert practicing in an area that aligns with my career goals and roles in a regulatory agency.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
From a humble beginning, I have taken one step at a time, going through challenging times in a middle-income country to be part of a team. I have worked to establish a robust and comprehensive system that meets international standards for the review and evaluation of the safety and efficacy of human medicinal products in a regulatory agency that has been designated as a center of excellence in Africa.
What has been the greatest challenge in your career?
Inadequate provision of requisite resources to progress steadily and consistently to reach career goals within a reasonable timeframe has been the greatest challenge. This situation leaves you no alternative than resorting to creative and innovative approaches to resolve some challenges in order to make progress.
How do you keep focused and motivated?
In a complex world of diverse healthcare products, the consumer is not adequately equipped to distinguish high-standard products from substandard ones. It is difficult to detect unsafe and ineffective healthcare products and select products that are fit for purpose. Being placed in a position as a regulator to have an oversight role to decide what healthcare products are fit for purpose through a rigorous regulatory review process based on sound scientific knowledge, reasonable judgment, and application of critical thinking skills is inspiring. We use risk management to grant marketing authorization to healthcare products deemed fit for their intended use, which is motivating and keeps us focused on our primary roles and responsibilities.
Patrick has been a member of ASCPT since 2024.
