As pharmacists elect their new national leaders at the 97th National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), tagged Ibom 2024, the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) and the Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs) have called on the incoming leadership to prioritise practice standardisation and reduce the growing expenditure on professional politics. These prevailing issues, they argue, do not reflect positively on the profession within the broader healthcare community.
The National Chairman of AHAPN, Pharm. Elechi Oyim, and the National ALPs Chairman, Pharm. (Mrs) Scholastica Lan, conveyed these concerns in exclusive interviews with Pharmanews. They emphasised the need for the incoming PSN president and team to build on the successes of the outgoing president by redirecting the costs saved from professional politics into meaningful projects that will significantly benefit public health.
They also tasked the new leaders with resolving bottlenecks surrounding the implementation of the consultant cadre in some states and the placement of intern pharmacists. Specifically, they urged the incoming leadership to translate the resolutions of various conferences of the Society’s technical arms into actionable initiatives, as many past conferences have yielded little beyond documentation.
Pharm. Oyim stressed that reducing the attrition rate among hospital and administrative pharmacists should be a top priority for the PSN leadership, noting that his association is currently reviewing the national policy on health workforce migration recently released by the Federal Government.
He stated, “The standardisation of hospital pharmacy practice should be given maximum priority by the new leaders. I have been working diligently with heads of pharmacy departments nationwide to harmonise a strategic approach to achieve this. The compounding and drug production units of all hospitals need adequate raw materials and funding to produce essential preparations for patient care. This has been corroborated by the Department of Food and Drug Services at the Federal Ministry of Health, and I will not rest until this is accomplished.
“Another critical issue is the pharmacy consultant cadre, which has recently received approval from the Federal Government, with directives issued to CMDs. We are, however, concerned that only a few states have complied. I urge the incoming PSN leadership to collaborate with us to ensure widespread implementation.”
Both leaders also praised the outgoing PSN President, Prof. Cyril Usifoh, for his steadfast support of the two associations. They highlighted his benevolence in allocating ALPs office space at the national secretariat in Lagos, which he personally commissioned. He was also a gracious host to lady pharmacists nationwide during their 15th Biennial Conference held in Benin, Edo State.
Pharm. (Mrs) Lan commented, “One key challenge I hope to see addressed is the shortage of internship placements for young graduates. I also wish to see a reduction in the growing costs of professional politics. Furthermore, I would like to see the resolutions from various technical and interest group conferences translated into more concrete actions that benefit the profession. Good communiqués are issued, but their implementation is often lacking.
“Prof. Usifoh has worked tirelessly to ensure that pharmacy and pharmacists have a voice in the country. He engaged with the government at the highest levels to create a conducive practice environment for pharmacists. His consultative efforts have yielded results. It was during his tenure that the Pharmacy Bill was approved, the PCN Board was reconstituted, and the Federal and State Governments approved the implementation of the consultants cadre for Fellows of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists. These are significant achievements.”
Discussing the challenges that limit female pharmacists’ opportunities for early leadership, such as balancing family and work, and securing a conducive work environment that supports both career development and childcare, she acknowledged that these issues can be resolved through dialogue and understanding between pharmacists, families, and workplace management. She further stressed the importance of diversification and versatility for female pharmacists, highlighting that, while these areas are challenging, they are achievable with effort.
“Other challenges include the need for diversification and versatility among lady pharmacists. They must build capacity in diverse areas, becoming multipurpose professionals with skills beyond their academic qualifications. By doing so, they will become sought-after professionals, with unique abilities. It is also vital that they work on their attitude, social relationships, and self-development to add value to their academic achievements,” she explained.
The top lady pharmacist in Nigeria also underscored the importance of professional merit, value, and commitment, which she said foster a sense of belonging and motivation. At every level, she observed, recognition is essential for performance and job satisfaction.
Growing credibility and influence are crucial leadership pillars, and she urged female pharmacists to aspire to leadership positions within the Society. She assured that ALPs branches across the states will continue to build relationships within PSN’s key leadership groups and engage in projects affecting various departments. She also encouraged her members to propose innovative solutions to longstanding challenges.
For Oyim, the welfare of pharmacists in hospital and administrative roles remains a significant task for the incoming PSN leadership. He called for improvements in their working conditions, enhanced welfare packages, adequate staffing, and recognition of their contributions to further boost their productivity. These, he noted, should be a key focus of the new leadership.
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