• Yakassai says open drug markets would ultimately be closed down
• Dogara as Special Guest of Honour at inauguration of PSN President, investiture of 70 new fellows on February 18 in Abuja
Pharmacists under the umbrella of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have requested the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to grant special attention to the review of pharmacy laws and regulations which will soon be presented to the House for passage into Law.

President PSN,

, on the occasion of a courtesy visit to the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, said this is with a view to strengthening the regulatory agencies in the pharmaceutical sector particularly the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) thereby making her more effective.

Yakasai informed the Dogara that PSN has established a forum for eminent citizens known as “Friends of Pharmacy” as a way of improving networking agenda of the society even as the Society enlisted Dogara into the forum.

The President expressed the appreciation of PSN to the House for the passage of the National Health Act, 2014 and promised to continue partnering with Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) to ensure that the Act is effectively operationalized.

Yakasai said the PSN is also working very closely with the regulatory agencies, FMOH and key stakeholders in pharmaceutical sector to reverse the chaotic uncoordinated drug distribution system in Nigeria through the implementation of National Drug Distribution Guideline (NDDG) issued by the FMOH with the aim of eliminating the incidences of fake and counterfeit medicines in Nigeria.

He, however, said: “Ultimately, the Open Drug Markets would be closed down.”Yakasai said in line with the tradition, the ceremonial event for the transition of power from the immediate past President to the current President would take place at the official inauguration of the new President slated for February 18, 2016 at Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton Abuja, 7.00pm- 9.00pm promptly.

He said the investiture of the New Fellows of the Society will also take place during this ceremony and solicited the Speaker to be PSN’s Special Guest of Honour during the prestigious occasion.

The PSN President congratulated the Dogara on his election as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 8thNational Assembly, even as he said the Constitution has vested enormous roles and responsibilities on the members which included among others, the powers to make Laws for the peace, order, and good governance of the Federation.

Yakasai said these responsibilities correspond with the philosophy of the change mantra.He said the PSN is the oldest Health Professional Association in Nigeria (founded in 1927) and was established with the aims and objectives of maintaining professional ethics and discipline among its members, thereby promoting quality pharmaceutical service delivery for the nation.

Similarly, Yakasai said the PSN also partners with the government to promote development of sound and effective health policies and as well promote sound legislation for the enhancement of the health of the citizens. He said as a professional Association, PSN gives cognisance to the enhancement of the image of Pharmacy profession and practitioners and advice on labour conditions relating to pharmacists.

Yakasai said the current executives of the PSN which he leads came on board at the recently concluded 89th National Conference of the Society tagged “Unity 2015” which took place in Abuja in November 2015.

He said his vision, as the President of PSN is to provide collaborative, participatory, responsive and transparent leadership. To achieve this, Yakasai said he has as one of his primary objectives, engagement in wider advocacies nationally and internationally to promote the ideals of the Society.

Dogara in a brief remarks said: “It was a great pleasure to receive a delegation from the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, led by the President, Ahmed Yakasai.

“We discussed a wide range of issues and I urged the organisation to work towards putting Nigeria on the map with more innovation, and to take advantage of the ongoing Constitution review process to propose amendments to laws governing the practice of the noble profession in Nigeria.

“I was also informed of my nomination to the hall of fame and this, I accepted.“I feel deeply honoured by the consideration and hope to contribute to the development of the pharmaceutical profession in Nigeria.”