Pharmacists hail efforts at medicine security in hospitals

In an effort to boost medicine security in hospitals in the country, all Federal Health Institutions have been granted permission to establish manufacturing/compounding units in their pharmacy.

The immediate past chairman of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN), Dr Kingsley Amibor, disclosed this while presenting his valedictory address at a dinner to round off the 22nd National Annual Scientific Conference which ended in Ilorin, Kwara State on Friday.

Amibor, while reeling out the scorecard of his executive, said the association has achieved improved specialisation in the administration of drugs in government hospitals as well as the status of members.

“Three years ago, we did promise to rebrand and reposition Hospital and Administrative Pharmacy practice for which we set up an 8-Point Agenda. Then core dispensing was the order of the day in our health institutions

“Today, I am glad to report that virtually all of the 8-Point Agenda have been fulfilled. Consultancy Pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical care, specialisation and sub-specialisation are now the order of the day.

“I am glad to report that just recently, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, has directed all Federal Health Institutions to begin the establishment of compounding/manufacturing units in all their pharmacy departments. This singular action will definitely go a long way to boost medicine security in our country.

“With the advent of COVID-19, our members are now actively involved in the production of basic health care needs such as hand sanitisers, disinfectants and detergents for use in hospitals,” he said, adding that pharmacists are now invited for direct negotiations with the government and not as members of amorphous group or union,” he said.

Amibor expressed appreciation to those who supported him, especially the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and past chairmen of AHAPN.

Meanwhile, the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) on Thursday elected new national executive to pilot the affairs of the association for the next three years, with Olabode Ogunjemiyo, emerging as the new chairman, after defeating his opponent, Ameh Abdullahi.

Others elected included Elechi Oyin, as vice-chairman; Ayodeji Obikoya, secretary; Joseph Oladele, assistant secretary; Oyinlade Kehinde, treasurer; Zainab Olaitan Alabi, as publicity secretary; Olarenwaju Saheed, financial secretary; Abdulai Hassan Ahmed, internal auditor; Margaret Eze, ex-officio member II and Francis Odigie,
ex-officio I.

In his post-election speech, Ogunjemiyo, who thanked the members for giving him the opportunity to serve, promised to run an all-inclusive administration.

He said, “It is going to be an inclusive administration because there are no losers, but it’s certain that one person must emerge as the winner. We are going to work with everyone, including those aspirants who couldn’t scale through.”