•Urge recognition of community pharmacies in PHCs
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Lagos branch, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have called for urgent reforms in health insurance tariffs and compensation structures for professional services.
They also urged the government to recognise community pharmacies as primary healthcare centres capable of expanding access to care and decongesting hospitals.
The call was made in Lagos to commemorate World Pharmacists Day 2025, themed “Think Health, Think Pharmacist,” and featured a road walk, community health outreach, exhibitions by pharmaceutical companies, and capacity-building sessions.
In a communiqué issued at the celebration, ACPN identified poor tariff structures under health insurance schemes and inadequate remuneration for services such as medication therapy management, immunisation, and patient counselling as pressing challenges.
They warned against the activities of charlatans in the drug supply chain and urged the government to strengthen regulatory agencies, update the Ilera Eko tariff system, and unbundle payment structures in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to ensure prompt reimbursement for medicines dispensed.
Chairman of PSN Lagos, Babayemi Oyekunle, said pharmacists remain indispensable to Nigeria’s healthcare system but face persistent obstacles, including illegal drug outlets, weak integration into primary healthcare, and the scourge of counterfeit medicines. He also called for improved welfare and incentives to curb brain drain among professionals.
Oyekunle emphasised that community pharmacies, if properly integrated, could decongest hospitals and serve as accessible primary healthcare centres. “Pharmacists are medication experts, ensuring safety, efficacy, and appropriate use of medicines for all citizens,” he said.
They further demanded the full recognition of consultant pharmacists in line with the Federal Government’s approvals, noting their specialised expertise in cardiology, endocrinology, and other fields could improve treatment outcomes.
ACPN Lagos Chairman, Tolulope Ajayi, echoed the global message from the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), which established World Pharmacists Day. He said the theme is a reminder that healthcare systems cannot achieve optimal results without pharmacists at the core.
“In line with global best practices, Nigeria must intentionally integrate pharmaceutical care into the healthcare delivery system. Every step we take towards recognising pharmacists is a step towards healthier communities,” he said.
Immediate past chairman of ACPN Lagos, Lawrence Ekhator, commended the resilience of community pharmacists despite regulatory and economic challenges. He stressed the need for sustained advocacy to protect patients from substandard medicines and foster partnerships with the government towards universal health coverage.
