Pharmacists Embrace Global Initiative To Drive Career Progression

.PCN seals 471 pharmaceutical, patent medicine stores in Edo

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City 

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has adopted a global initiative to drive professional progression in the country’s healthcare sector.

This was as the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) yesterday shut down 471stores for breaching pharmaceutical practice regulations in parts of Edo State.

National Chairman of ACPN, Ambrose Eze, said that the project was part of ACPN’s 2025 World Pharmacy Day celebration aimed at enhancing professional opportunities for growth and career improvement.

According to him, the initiative known as “Pharmacy Forward: Performance, Collaboration and Health Transformation, is grounded on standardising career progression ratings for Community Pharmacists nationally and globally.”

He explained that the scheme was conceived to motivate and encourage Community Pharmacists to develop their talents and attain greater heights in the profession.

Eze noted that the absence of a structured career path has affected standards of community pharmacy practice in the country. “This is very strategic to attaining optimal success stories with regards to the highlighted outputs of pharmacists.”

He highlighted the new career development scheme for Community Pharmacists, including Community Pharmacist, Senior Community Pharmacist, Community Pharmacist Specialty, Community Pharmacist Senior Specialty and Community Pharmacist Consultant; stressing that the career gradient enunciated will be driven by professional knowledge, attributes and practice.

Emphasising the importance of pharmacists in the nation’s healthcare delivery, the ACPN chairman said that ‘’Pharmacies are often the first point of contact for many patients, making them essential in the healthcare system. Pharmacists are also the most accessible and available professional as they do not charge consultation fees before they freely give out information. They dispense and counsel patients including reeling out information on possible side-effects, adverse drug reactions and drug disease interaction profile.”

He further explained the pharmacists’ role in the healthcare sector of the country, as they explore opportunities in public health, health advocacy, and advisory services.

‘’Community Pharmacists will be positioned to establish career advance schemes that will motivate professional development and retain talent, and promote continuous capacity development.

In a document jointly signed by Eze and National Secretary of the Association, Omokhafe Ashore, titled: ‘Think Health, Think Pharmacist’,ACPN explained that the initiative will lead to improved health outcomes for the populace.

‘’In our quest to boost the value chain of professionally driven service in the health system, we shall generate a progression that is epitomised and reflected as prototype of an impactful career strata in community Pharmacy Practice.

“Our instinct suggests that the benefits from the initiative will include enhanced skill and confidence, professional development, continuous quality improvement and networking opportunities; and more platforms for partnership and collaboration. That is the essence of pharmacists providing health for the populace,” he said.

Eze reiterated the commitment of ACPN to bring positive change and professional satisfaction in Community Pharmacy Practice in the country, “as the occasion of the 2025 World Pharmacists Day presents a unique and peculiar window for all Pharmacists indeed to bring considerable benefit to the public,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference after its one week operation in the Edo South Senatorial Districts and also to mark the World Pharmacists Day, Registrar of PCN, Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, said the would continue to entrench its cardinal focus of practice, premises and personnel in pharmaceutical practice in the country.

Represented by PCN Head of Enforcement, Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, Dr. Ahmed said the closures were carried out in Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, Ovia North-East, Egor and Uhunmwonde local government areas in Edo South.

According to him, “A total of 743 premises, comprising 196 pharmacies and 547 patent medicine stores, were inspected. One individual was arrested for obstructing PCN inspectors in the discharge of their duties.

“Consequently, a total of 471 premises were sealed for contravening relevant regulations, including 77 pharmacies, 174 patent medicine stores, and 220 unlicensed shops. Furthermore, four premises were served with compliance directives, necessitating corrective actions to address identified non-compliances.”

He said during the enforcement exercise, various regulatory breaches including operation of unlicensed premises, non-compliance with premises registration renewal requirements, unauthorised clinical practice, unauthorised access to controlled substances, stockholding more than approved limits as stipulated in the Patent Medicine List, training of apprentices, and wholesalers indulging in retail operations in contravention of their licensure terms were noticed.

“The enforcement of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines is a statutory responsibility entrusted to the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, aimed at ensuring the availability of safe and efficacious medicines nationwide.

“The pharmaceutical sector in Nigeria has been bedeviled by numerous challenges, including chaotic drug distribution networks, proliferation of unlicensed and illegal pharmaceutical premises, and unauthorised handling of medicinal products, thereby necessitating stringent regulatory measures.

“Key areas of emphasis include, ensuring compliance with established codes of conduct and professional standards, the maintenance of controlled environments to safeguard the quality and potency of medicinal products and assessing the competency levels of personnel involved in pharmaceutical practice to ensure they meet the required standards.

“The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) advises the people in Edo State and beyond to exercise caution when sourcing medicines, ensuring they patronise licensed and qualified premises to avoid potential health risks,” Ahmed said.