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Pharmacists, doctors unite to boost health sector

By Chukwuma Muanya, Assistant Editor (Head Insight Team, Science and Technology) and Emeka Anuforo (Abuja)
25 February 2016   |   3:09 am
Pharmacists under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and medical doctors under the umbrella of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have decried the high level of competition, confrontation and distrust in the health sector even as they said that the cost of fighting against disease and preserving health would continue to increase in spite of constant control and intervention.
President Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ahmed I. Yakasai (right) in a warm embrace with the President Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Kayode Obembe, as former Minister of Health and Chairman of Juli Pharmacy, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, and Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, watches in admiration at the inauguration of Yakasai as the 20th President of PSN and investiture of 70 new fellows of the Society, at Transcorp Hiton Hotel, Abuja

President Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ahmed I. Yakasai (right) in a warm embrace with the President Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Kayode Obembe, as former Minister of Health and Chairman of Juli Pharmacy, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, and Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, watches in admiration at the inauguration of Yakasai as the 20th President of PSN and investiture of 70 new fellows of the Society, at Transcorp Hiton Hotel, Abuja

*Develop platform to provide synergy between members towards providing effective delivery system
*Lady Omaliko calls for greater support for pharmaceutical manufacturers
*Kano strengthens drug supply system to reduce stock out in public health facilities
Pharmacists under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and medical doctors under the umbrella of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have decried the high level of competition, confrontation and distrust in the health sector even as they said that the cost of fighting against disease and preserving health would continue to increase in spite of constant control and intervention.

President PSN, Ahmed I. Yakasai, at his inauguration and investiture of 70 new fellows of the Society, at Transcorp Hiton Hotel, Abuja, said pharmacists would therefore provide leadership to ensure unity among all the stakeholders in healthcare delivery and promised to encourage patronage of the local industry, as more World Health Organisation (WHO) compliant pharmaceutical companies emerge.

Yakasai, in his remarks at the occasion made available to The Guardian, said pharmacists’ contribution to healthcare is developing in new ways to support patients in their use of medicines and as part of the clinical decision making across the range of ailments, which is the major reason why the PSN continues to champion the dire need for a consultancy cadre in public service pharmacy practice.

The PSN President said: “Professions exist to serve Society, therefore our mission as pharmacists must address the needs of Society, our duty is to work and ensure that the added value we bring to healthcare and our potentials are taken into account and respected by policy makers and other health professionals. “We note here that there is a lot of competition, confrontation and distrust in the health sector.

“This situation must give way for collaboration, consultation, cooperation in the interest of the health consuming public. We must open our hearts and minds to allow the team concept to rule our worlds in healthcare delivery. There is no doubt that the cost of fighting against disease and preserving health will continue to increase in spite of constant control and intervention. There are manifold reasons and benefits for wishing to create a genuine cooperation between pharmacists and other healthcare providers. Pharmacists will therefore provide leadership to ensure unity among all the stakeholders in healthcare delivery.”

President, NMA, Dr. Kayode Obembe, said the Association through the National Committee on Inter-professional relations has developed a platform, which will provide a synergy between medical doctors and pharmacists towards providing an effective health care delivery system in line with International best practices. “I have no doubt that my dear brother the new President will follow suit and enhance its efficiency,” he said.

Obembe said as partners in progress, the NMA knows that the PSN is facing numerous problems such as disparity in the recognition of the Directorate Cadre across various Ministries, the Pharm ‘D’ issues, lack of adequate facilities at other levels in terms of pharmaceutical inspection committee, patent proprietory vendors, task force on counterfeit and fake drugs, mirage of quackery cases, importation of sub-standard drugs/pharmaceutical products and the states rehabilitation centres where pharmacists and medical doctors had formed a strong synergy.

The NMA President said these challenges are no doubt surmountable which can be achieved via lobbying, dialogue, effective deliberations with other health workers and close working relationship/collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN). “Mr. President, these tasks are enormous but putting in place re-engineering and transformation efforts in the current leadership of the PSN and working zestfully towards achieving them is key,” Obembe said.

He said the NMA on her part would do everything humanly possible to give a helping hand to PSN to enhance effective health care delivery system in the country. “Together we can move the health sector forward.”

One of the newly inducted Fellows, Lady Adaeze Omaliko of Malik’s Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Limited, Onitsha, Anambra State, called for greater government support for pharmaceutical manufacturers.

She said: “I think the profession is really coming up in every aspect of things. I must encourage the younger ones to keep doing the right things. We have pharmacists in community, hospitals, and the manufacturing sector. What is important is to do the right time at the right time no matter where you are to avoid losing patience. “

On how government could further support the profession, she noted: “Government has a lot to do in pharmaceutical sector, especially help for those in the manufacturing sector. If the necessary raw materials are there and everything put in place, I believe the health of Nigerians will be secured.”

Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, in a keynote address, asserted that the significance of pharmaceutical profession to human lives is very great as it ensures the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs in the society. “This is of course an important task that needs to have a sound regulatory body to be able to sustain the ideals/ethics of the profession. We are aware of your role in this regards, I urge you to keep on the good work you are doing towards promoting quality service delivery for our country,” Ganduje said.

The Governor said Kano has chosen as part of its intervention to strengthen the drug supply system in the State through partnership with the British Department for International Development (DFID).

Ganduje said that through the partnership, the incessant out of stock of drugs in public health facilities has been reduced to the barest minimum.

He added: “Additionally, inventory control management was also instituted across all health facilities running the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF), which ensures that the right drugs are availableat the right time, to the right patient, in the right quantities, thus promoting the rational use of drugs.”

As part of efforts to reduce maternal and child deaths in the country, Yakasai said: “In community pharmacy practice, we shall encourage practitioners to begin to exploit opportunities in maternal and child mortality, which continues to ravage our population, while we stabilise hospital practice by ensuring hospital pharmacists can reach the zenith as stipulated in the scheme of service for pharmacists. Specialist pharmacists will be given their due as we plan in the months ahead.”

Yakasai gave assurances that pharmacy will take its pride of place in the annals of a great nation that will ultimately evolve particularly because of the change mantra of the incumbent administration.

Like former United States (U.S.) President, John F. Kennedy, rightly asserted, “The Pharmacist is an indispensable link in the chain of national health protection and promotion. If we did not have the pharmacist, it would be necessary to invent him.”

Yakasai said one very clear vision is that he is here to raise the bar of pharmacy practice in Nigeria and bridge inter professional gaps. “Colleagues, I assure you pharmacy will take its pride of place in the history of a great nation that will ultimately evolve particularly because of the change mantra of the incumbent administration,” he said.

The pharmacist said PSN shall encourage community pharmacists to begin to exploit opportunities in maternal and child mortality, which continues to ravage the population, as well as stabilise hospital practice by ensuring hospital pharmacists can reach the apogee as stipulated in the scheme of service for pharmacists. “Specialist pharmacists will be given their due as we plan in the months ahead,” Yakasai said.

The PSN President added: “Our local pharmaceutical industry will be vigorously supported to come up with good manufacturing practice (GMP) compliant factories as prescribed by the World Health Organisation. We shall also encourage patronage of the local industry, as more WHO compliant pharmaceutical companies emerge. Academic pharmacists will be strengthened to be result oriented by inculcating a practice philosophy that compels teachers to teach what they actively embrace on the field. The evolving satellite pharmacy concept will particularly ensure this.”

The pharmacist said he plans to expand the knowledge base of pharmacists in Nigeria through some core programmes one of which is the provision of a standard National Medicines Information Centre of international repute in collaboration with United Kingdom (U.K.) Medicines Information Centre.

Yakasai’s inauguration and investiture of the 70 new fellows was graced by special dignitaries including the Special Guests of Honour, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Speaker, House Reps, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, represented by Hon. Muhammad Umar Jega); the Chief Host and Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Folorunsho Adewole; Guests of Honour, Hon. Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Hon. Babatunde Fashola; His Excellency and Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; His Excellency and Executive Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello; Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Hon. Alhaji Muhammad M. Bello; Chairman of the occasion, Pharm. (Prince) Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; H.E. Ibrahim Shekarau (Sardaunan Kano), former Governor of Kano State; H.E. High Commissioner of Pakistan, Lt.Gen. Agha Umer Farooq; His Highness, The Emir of Kano represented by Alhaji Ahmed Matawalle, Talban Kano; former Justice of Federation, Justice Uwais; Eze C.C. Mkpado; Oba Olatunde Falabi; Akire of Ikire, President, NMA, Dr. Kayode Obembe; and Representative of Association of Professional bodies of Nigeria, Dr. Omede Idris.

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