Pharmacists have been urged to make extra effort in ensuring that medicines are affordable and also available to all Nigerians irrespective of their sex, location or socio economic status at all times.
The call came up on Thursday at the 7th edition of Ladipo Mobolaji Abisogun-Afodu Annual Lecture in Pharmacy, held at the Old Great Hall, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos State.
The title of the 7th annual lecture is “Medicine Affordability and Accessibility in a Challenging Economy: the Role of the Pharmacy Profession”.
Speaking at the event, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Fidson Healthcare PLC, Dr Fidelis Ayebae, who was the chairman of the event congratulated the board of trustees of the annual lecture for their consistency and keeping the flag flying. He also commended the Omololu-Mulele estate for their endowment that made the annual lecture possible.
Commenting on the title of the lecture, Ayebae who was ably represented by an executive director of the company, Mr Olugbenga Olayeye lamented the current economic challenges in the country, saying it is very unusual.
He pointed out that even in view of the current economic challenges in the country, medicine affordability is very critical, stressing that the country needs to give proper attention to medicine security. He noted a nation cannot achieve sound health without medicine, which underscores the importance of medicine affordability.
He decried that packaging materials take the lion share of the cost of drug production in Nigeria today, hence there is need for creative ways of producing packaging materials locally through collaboration between the academia and the industry. He also said as much as there is a need to make medicines affordable to all, it is also imperative to make the medicine accessible to everyone at all times and locations without compromising the original quality.
The Chairman, Board of Trustee, Ladipo Mobolaji Abisogun-Afodu Annual Lecture in Pharmacy, Prof. Oluwole Familoni, in his remark, noted that the annual lecture has become a veritable platform to discourse important pharmacy and health related national issues, stressing that there is need to put frantic effort in place to ensure that medicines are affordable and accessible to all Nigerians.
In her remark, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola appreciated the Omololu-Mulele estate for sustaining the annual lecture, noting that the 7th edition is to further charge stakeholders and state actors on the need to tackle some of the challenges in the health sector.
The VC, ably represented by Prof. Familoni said “Indeed the country is undergoing a phase but I hope we will turn the outcome of this lecture into action”.
Delivering the 7th Annual Lecture, the guest lecturer, who is the Provost, College of Pharmacy, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Professor Mbang Femi-Oyewo pointed out that pharmacists have pivotal roles to play in ensuring drug affordability and accessibility in every nation globally.
Quoting a former American President, J.F Kennedy, Prof. Femi-Oyewo said Pharmacists are an indispensable link in the healthcare system, such that if there is no one, there will be need to invent one. She said the statement was reinforced by a former Director General of World Health organisation (WHO), Dr Hiroshi Nakajima, who said in 1989 that “without drugs, a health service has no substance and no credibility”.
The guest lecturer describes medicine as any substance, other than food, used to prevent, diagnose, treat, or relieve symptoms of a disease or abnormal condition. She explained that medicine affordability is how feasible an individual or society finds it to pay for a drug; stressing that socio economic factors such as income level, poverty and social inequality can significantly impact medicine affordability. She pointed out that there is little value in new drugs that patients cannot afford and there is no value in drugs that do not exist.
Medicine accessibility on the other hand, according to the professor, is the reasonable ability of people to get the medicines they need to achieve health, noting that such access is deemed to be part of the right to health.
The speaker pointed out that Nigeria is currently facing many economic challenges that threaten its growth prospects and stability. She also noted that economic challenges play a significant role in medicine availability, noting that creation of more jobs and investing in infrastructure can help to curtail the challenges.
The lecturer said the primary mission of the pharmacy profession is to have a positive impact on the provision of public health services by ensuring the safe and effective use of medications. The practice of pharmacy, according to the professor, includes dispensing of prescription drugs, administration of mediation, review of drug regimens, provision of patient counseling among others.
She added that pharmacists play an essential role in improving accessibility of drugs, especially by bridging the gap between the pharmaceutical companies and underserved communities and advocating for community pharmacies in remote areas. She pointed out that pharmacists play important roles in improving medicine distribution channels as well as advocacy and influencing policy.
“As pharmacists, our expertise, advocacy, innovative and collaborative practices are key to tackling the challenges facing drug availability and accessibility, and improving patients’ outcomes. Pharmacists should be involved in healthcare policies that support the sustainable availability of drugs, strengthen the pharmaceutical supply chain and leverage on technology. Together we can make a difference”, Prof Femi-Oyewo said.
The Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Prof. Gloria Ayoola, in her goodwill message, stated that the event is a testament to the enduring legacy of Pharmacist Ladipo Mobolaji Abisogun-Afodu and the exceptional foresight of his daughter, late Chief (Mrs) Abibola Aina Omololu-Mulele, whose generosity endowment has made the annual lecture possible.
“This year’s theme “Medicine Affordability and Accessibility in a Challenging Economy: the Role of Pharmacy Profession” resonates deeply in today’s complex healthcare landscape. The economic realities we face demand innovative and sustainable solutions to ensure that lifesaving medicines are within the reach of all. As pharmacists, we stand uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between pharmaceutical advances and patients’ access”, Prof. Ayoola said.
The Managing Director, Pharma Solutions, Pharm. Olabisi Oyeleye, who was a guest of honour at the event charged pharmacists to think out of the box. She said “we have talked about many challenges, but I can see many opportunities.
“As a pharmacist, there are different areas you venture into. You just have to start somewhere, just change your mindset, Pharmacists are intelligent. Don’t be narrow minded, go all out and dare it, you can start small”, Pharm. Oyeleye charged pharmacists.
On his part, the chairman of the event planning committee, Prof. Emmanuel Nwanolue Anyika, while appreciating the Omololu-Mulele family and guests that graced the occasion, urged pharmacists to unleash their potential toward making drugs available and accessible to all Nigerians.
The high point of the event was the announcement of the winner of the 5th Ladipo Mobolaji Abisogun-Afodu Research Grant Award Competition in Pharmacy, which is endowed by late Chief (Mrs) Abibola Aina Omololu-Mulele.
The winner of the 5th research grant award, which came with N2, 000, 000, is Pharm. Dr Bamisaye Olaofe Oyawaluja, a lecturer at the department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos. The cheque was presented to the winner at the event. The title of the proposed research is “Artificial Intelligent and Pharmacophore Modelling as a Tool to Improve Access to Medicine to Enhance Quality of Patient’s Life”.
While speaking shortly after presenting the grant cheque to the winner, representative of the Omololu-Mulele, Mrs M.A Sasegbon commended the winner as well as the past winners who have taken their time to engage in research works. She also reiterated the commitment of the family to the grant in subsequent years.
