FIP Community Pharmacy Embraces ACPN’s Accreditation Proposal

Esther Oluku

National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, has presented a seminal paper that was adopted by the FIP Community Pharmacy during the recently concluded 83rd FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from August 31 to September 3, 2025, themed “Pharmacy Forward: Performance, Collaboration, and Health Transformation.”

Ezeh’s presentation, entitled “Standardization: Career Progression Ratings for Community Pharmacists in Nigeria,” underscored the pressing necessity for structured career advancement pathways within community pharmacy.

His session was presided over by Mr. Sheriff Guorgui, Chairman of the FIP Community Pharmacy, who endorsed Ezeh’s proposals as innovative concepts to be implemented on a global scale, declaring it “the optimal approach for community pharmacists.”

In his discourse, Ezeh elaborated on the diverse rating, progression, and assessment frameworks prevalent in pharmacies for evaluating performance, competence, and professional growth, elucidating that these frameworks serve to inspire performance, dedication, and job satisfaction.

He articulated concerns regarding the prevailing status of community pharmacists in Nigeria, highlighting that the Superintendent Pharmacist position functions simultaneously as both the entry-level role and the pinnacle of professional hierarchy. “Theoretically, there exists no distinction between a novice and a seasoned practitioner,” he remarked.

This absence of differentiation not only breeds demoralization but also fosters stagnation and complacency, which in turn cultivates reluctance among emerging pharmacists to pursue community pharmacy as a viable career option.

To address these critical challenges, the ACPN has instituted an Accreditation and Standardization Committee, which has culminated in the establishment of the Community Pharmacists Assessment and Career Progression Institute (CPACPI).

This institution aspires to advance excellence in community pharmacy practice through a structured, transparent, and competency-based assessment and career progression system, Ezeh asserted. CPACPI empowers community pharmacists to deliver safe, patient-centered, and innovative healthcare services.

During his presentation, Ezeh delineated several challenges currently confronting community pharmacists, including the lack of standardized performance metrics and the dynamic healthcare landscape that necessitates adaptation in their roles. He identified avenues to tackle these challenges through a career advancement scheme that catalyzes professional growth and talent retention.

The objectives of the CPACPI encompass assessment, career progression, professional development, and continuous quality enhancement. Ezeh articulated various advantages that the Community Pharmacists Career Progression Scheme provides, such as interactive webinars, workshops, periodic assessments and evaluations, mentorship opportunities, and the documentation of achievements and professional milestones.

This initiative fosters networking opportunities and augments professional recognition, ultimately enhancing patient care and health outcomes, he added.

In conclusion, Ezeh reaffirmed the significance of the Community Pharmacists Career Progression Scheme, stating, “This initiative is poised to evaluate, support, and elevate the practice of community pharmacy across Nigeria.”

He implored pharmacists to seize the opportunities presented by this new framework, which promises to amplify their professional visibility and impact within the healthcare sector.

Ezeh’s presentation and its subsequent adoption at a global level signify a historic milestone for the ACPN, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to advancing community pharmacy on the world stage.