The Federal Government has invited pharmacists nationwide to partner with government agencies, academia, and the industry players to battle drug counterfeiting and antimicrobial resistance in the healthcare sector.
During Ibrahim Ayuba’s inauguration as President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and investiture of 145 new fellows in Abuja, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Walson-Jack, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment towards improving the welfare of medical practitioners. She highlighted the contribution of the pharmacist towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), drug security, and public health protection.
“The role of pharmacists in the healthcare system cannot be overstated. As custodians of medicines, drug therapy, and pharmaceutical care, they have a vital role to play in keeping citizens healthy,” she added.
Walson-Jack also lauded the PSN for maintaining ethical and professional excellence such that the government would ensure policies facilitating professional development, research, and a facilitative environment for pharmaceutical practice.
PSN President Calls for Early Action on Impending Healthcare Reforms
In his speech during the ceremony of his investiture as PSN President, PSN President Ibrahim Ayuba called on the Federal Government to improve healthcare manpower development to address urgent issues like poor health statistics and constant brain drain.
He acknowledged the accreditation of the health system consultant cadre pharmacy practice as one of the key policy achievements but regretted the undue delay, which was since 2011 and re-affirmed in 2021.
Ayuba attributed the slow pace of the process to Federal Health Institutions (FHIs) Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) as he revealed that fewer than 15% of FHIs employed consultant pharmacists on their rolls despite approvals having been granted over 15 months ago.
It is the height of disrespect that the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation sent a circular a few months ago, and civil servants go about disobeying it with impunity. This indiscipline needs to be reassessed,” he said.
He also faulted the state governments for their slow adoption of the policy, observing that only 10 states had endorsed the consultant cadre, while Lagos State’s non-implementation since 2018 was highly alarming.
Rising Fake Drug Plaguen and Rising Calls for Stricter Regulation
Alert at the surge in the flow of fake drugs in the country, Ayuba described the recent shutdown of biggest drug markets in Lagos, Aba, and Onitsha as stark proof of the rising vice.
He called for the urgent reconstitution of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) to enable wholesale regulatory enforcement, arguing that the lack of a legally constituted PCN was choking attempts to stop fake drugs.
The PCN and the NAFDAC can easily interact with each other when regulating the effects of the closed drug markets. There are honest players within the markets, and the PCN should be given the right to compel compliance with regulation,” he said.
Ayuba urged the Federal Government to commission the PCN board with immediate effect, assuring that enhanced regulatory enforcement would be in place to combat Nigeria’s trillion-naira counterfeit drug economy.
He assured the government and citizens of Nigeria that as the PSN under his leadership, would adopt the tenets of Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) to safeguard and promote citizens’ health.
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