pharmacy

…Call for Coordinated Wholesale Centre to Tackle Fake Drugs

Pharm. Babayemi Oyekunle, chairman, PSN, Lagos State, flanked by Pharm. Abiola Paul-Ozieh, chairman, HCPAN, Lagos State, and Pharm. Tolu Ajayi, chairman, ACPN, Lagos State, at the press briefing to mark the 2024 WPD, at the PSN secretariat, Lagos.

Pharmacists in Lagos State, under the auspices of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), have issued a strong appeal to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to expedite the approval of the Consultant Pharmacists Cadre, asserting that this action is long overdue for the advancement of pharmaceutical services in the state.

They made the call during a press conference in Lagos, commemorating the 2024 World Pharmacists Day, themed “Pharmacists: Meeting Global Health Needs.” The pharmacists highlighted the critical role of consultant pharmacists in the healthcare system, particularly in clinical settings. They argued that establishing this cadre would enhance the quality of patient care and ensure better healthcare outcomes.

World Pharmacists Day, observed annually on 25 September, was established by the International Pharmaceutical Federation to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions of pharmacists in building healthier communities worldwide.

A cross-section of Lagos pharmacists at the rally ground to commemorate the World Pharmacists Day 2024

In his address, Pharm. Babayemi Oyekunle, chairman of the Lagos State chapter of PSN, emphasised the importance of the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre for recognising the expertise of pharmacists who specialise in various fields. He noted that the approval is not merely a professional advancement but is essential for improving patient safety and healthcare delivery in Lagos State.

Oyekunle stated, “The Consultant Pharmacist Cadre has become fully operational at the federal level, with the necessary elements integrated into the IPPIS payment platform for Consultant Pharmacists. Over 250 Consultant Pharmacists have been appointed in federal health institutions recently, with University College Hospital, Ibadan, leading the way with over 30 appointments.”

He further pointed out that all other six southwest states have finalised the implementation of the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre, leaving Lagos State embarrassingly as the only state where delays continue.

Oyekunle urged the state government to expedite action on other lingering agreements and new ones to avert what he termed “a seemingly inevitable labour unrest that could engulf the health sector.”

Additionally, he called on Governor Sanwo-Olu to establish a Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC), similar to the one in Kano State, to address the rampant issues of drug abuse and the sale of counterfeit and expired medications.

He stated, “Setting up a CWC in Lagos would allow us to trace every drug entering the state, thereby eliminating the sale of adulterated, substandard, and fake drugs. This centre would enable us to identify the sources of all medications consumed by the citizens of Lagos.”

Oyekunle emphasised the importance of establishing this centre, stating, “Lagos State has the highest population in Nigeria and should adopt global best practices. Worldwide, people can trace the sources of their medications, but currently, in Lagos, we cannot trace the origins of our drugs.”

Pharm. Tolulope Ajayi, chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Lagos State chapter, corroborated Oyekunle’s statements, advocating for a holistic approach to patient care. He urged the government to demonstrate the political will necessary to establish a CWC, cautioning that without it, falsified drugs will continue to infiltrate the system unchecked. He identified the absence of coordinated wholesale centres as a major contributor to the proliferation of illegal medicine stores in the country.

Pharm. Abiola Paul-Ozieh, chairman of the Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN), highlighted the significance of World Pharmacists Day in recognising the vital contributions of pharmacists to enhancing patient care and public health. He stated, “Pharmacists play an essential role in raising public awareness of health issues, ensuring the safe use of pharmaceuticals and healthcare equipment, and educating the public about medications.”

This year’s World Pharmacists Day also featured a health walk by members, which started at the busy Ojota Junction and concluding at the PSN office in Ogudu, Lagos.

A cross-section of Lagos pharmacists at the rally ground to commemorate the World Pharmacists Day 2024

Pharm. Babayemi Oyekunle, chairman, PSN, Lagos State, flanked by Pharm. Abiola Paul-Ozieh, chairman, HCPAN, Lagos State, and Pharm. Tolu Ajayi, chairman, ACPN, Lagos State, at the press briefing to mark the 2024 WPD, at the PSN secretariat, Lagos.