Association seeks integration of pharmacists into patient management teams

The Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) has expressed regrets that some health institutions in Nigeria are yet to integrate pharmacists into their patient management teams.

The association, therefore, enjoined such healthcare institutions to put the machinery in motion to ensure that they make amends, stressing that such has become the gold standard of practice of pharmacy all over the world.

In a communique after its 22nd Annual National Scientific Conference at De-Peace Hotel & Suites, Ilorin, Kwara State, AHAPN commended the Board of Management of University College Hospital, Ibadan for being a trailblazer in the implementation of the circular and called on all other hospitals in Nigeria to emulate University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and commence implementation without further delay.

The conference, with the theme “Advancing Technological Revolution in Pharmaceutical Service Delivery,” also featured a keynote address delivered by Prof. Patrick Omonua Erah, a Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Benin, Edo state.

In the communique signed by Dr. Kingsley Amibor and Dr. Hafiz Akande, National Chairman and National Secretary respectively, AHAPN stated: “Conference reaffirmed the indispensability concept of the Pharmacist as an integral member of the healthcare team crucial to the delivery of quality healthcare to patients in Nigeria.

“It submitted that the integration of Pharmacists into the patient management team in a collaborative practice with clinicians in some practice settings in Nigeria has reduced preventable adverse drug events and saved the cost of healthcare to patients.

“Conference, therefore called on health institutions yet to align their Pharmacy practice to the aforementioned model to put machinery in place to see to its actualization as this has become the gold standard of practice of Pharmacy across the globe.

“Conference acknowledged the global trends in the evolution of Pharmacy practice which now includes the provision of expert and specialized services such as Pharmaceutical care, radiotherapy, effective medication therapy management and specialized pharmacotherapy for disease conditions, specialized critical care, oncology Pharmacy practice, Pharmaco-vigilance and adverse drug reporting and critical aspects of Pharmaceutical care such as patient counselling and medication audits and submitted that the foregoing areas remain advanced and required expert and specialist skills to effectively drive their practice.

“Conference, therefore, appreciated the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to realign the country’s healthcare system to meet quality standards in line with global best practices as demonstrated through government’s creation and release of the circular on the Pharmacist Consultant Cadre for Pharmacists in Civil /Public Service in Nigeria as approved by the National Council on Establishment.”

The association reaffirmed that Pharmaceutical care is a specialist practice, adding, “The mission of Pharmacy and a measure of the quality of the Pharmacist’s contributions in the healthcare delivery system remains the bedrock and cornerstone of Pharmacy practice in the twenty-first-century era.”

Conference commended the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) for her adoption of the AHAPN-pioneered Position Paper on Pharmaceutical Care as a veritable tool that would “drive the implementation of this model of practice in Nigeria.”

Conference, therefore, called on the PCN to fast track the process of implementation in our health facilities across the country through proper regulation and adequate oversight.

High point of the Annual General Meeting was the unanimously ratification and adoption of the proposals contained in the 2021 reviewed Byelaws of the Association as approved by the National Council and the election of Pharm. Olabode Ogunjemiyo as AHAPN National Chairman, alongside other officers, to pilot its affairs of the association for the next year.