Communique of 18th annual national conference of association of hospital and administrative pharmacists of Nigeria

pharmacy

Communique issued at the end of the 18^th annual scientific conference held from the 8^th to 12^th of August 2016, at the Olusegun Obasanjo presidential library Abeokuta Ogun state.

PREAMBLE

The 18^th Annual Scientific Conference of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) with the theme “Enhancing Pharmaceutical Care through Hospital based Compounding”, was held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, from 8^th to 12^th August, 2016. It was kick started by a tree planting exercise and health walk led by the first lady of Ogun State,  Her Excellency Dr. (Mrs) Olufunso Amosun, ably represented by Dr Yetunde Lawson. Theme of the healthwalk was “Uplift Your Health, Consult your Pharmacist.” The keynote address speaker was Professor Peace Babalola, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan. The chairman of the occasion was Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson, (MFR) the Iyalode of Yoruba Land, represented by Deacon Kunle,  while the special guest of honour was the Executive Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. He was represented by the special adviser on health, Dr Babafemi Adenuga. The opening ceremony was also graced by His Royal Majesty, Dr Olusanya Adegboyega Dosumu (CON), Olowu Kanguere the Olowu of Owu. Other dignitaries in attendance included  president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm (Alhaji) Ahmed Yakassai and the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Ogun State, Dr  Babatunde Ipaye represented by Dr Nasir Aigoro, Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Health. Also in attendance were Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of  Fidson Healthcare Plc, former chairman of the board of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Professor Ogunbona, and the Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Pharm. Dr  Albert Alkali.  In attendance were Dr. Daniel Orumwense, deputy President (South) of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, and Pharmacist  Martin Oyewole, National Chairman of AHAPN who was the chief host and several others.

Plenary discussants at the ceremony included the registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, (PCN) Pharm Elijah N. Mohammed, who spoke on the topic “Standards and Protocols for Hospital based Compounding” and Dr. John Alfa, Director of Pharmaceutical Services, National Assembly Health Clinic, Abuja. He discussed “Minimizing Drug Shortages through Hospital based Compounding”.

CONFERENCE OBSERVATIONS

• Conference noted that the pharmacist is a key health professional that helps patients achieve best results from their medications by ensuring individuals receive proper drug and therapeutic treatments for health issues. This can be achieved by working in tandem with other healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical companies and the public.
• It was also noted that there are currently global changes to pharmacy practice in the areas of hospital pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, ambulatory care pharmacy, compounding pharmacy, consultancy pharmacy,  internet/online pharmacy, veterinary/animal pharmacy, nuclear pharmacy/radiotherapy, military pharmacy, pharmacy informatics, public health/social pharmacy etc.
• Conference agreed that before mass production of medications became widespread, compounding was a routine and core activity among pharmacists
• Despite their many benefits, most mass-produced medicines still failed to meet some required and individualized needs of patients.
• Compounding is the process of preparing medicines (drugs) extemporaneously according to a given formula to meet the unique needs of individual patients or categories of patients.
• Compounding is ethical and legal as long as the medications are prescribed by a licensed practitioner for a specific patient and compounded by a licensed pharmacist.
• Compounding is also crucial to research and drug development.
• Key requirements for standard compounding include personnel, premises, equipment, sanitation, quality control, record keeping, labeling, packaging and proper storage.
• Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has stipulated minimum standards/requirements for hospital-based compounding.
• Compounding can ensure access to affordable and quality medicines which are critical for functioning health systems and fundamental for obtaining universal health coverage.
• Compounding can improve drug shortages defined as ‘’the time when demand or projected demand for a medically necessary drug exceeds its supply”. This shortage which is due to the continuous devaluation of the naira against major world currencies is a threat to the healthcare system.
• Current strategies to reduce drug shortages such as centralised/decentralized procurement system, direct cash procurement, drug revolving fund scheme (DRF), and National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), must include compounding and hospital based drug production.
• Hospital Pharmacy Compounding is cost effective, provides professional satisfaction, advances teaching and learning and offers job creation opportunities.

CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS

Conference resolved as follows:

• That compounding of pharmaceutical products must be encouraged considering the advantages of access, affordability and cost effectiveness.
• All hospital pharmacies must comply with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria’s minimum standards for drug compounding.
• All compounding shall be carried out using documented standard operating procedures (SOP) and under the direct supervision of the pharmacist.
• To meet global changes and emerging challenges, hospital and administrative pharmacists should embrace continuous education and learning.
• That the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) and its affiliate branches remain part of Association of Healthcare Professionals of Nigeria (AHPA) and Joint Health Sector Union of Nigeria (JOHESU) and demands that government releases necessary circulars forthwith, and implements in full, all agreements signed with JOHESU as well as those ordered by the courts.
• AHAPN notes with dismay, the continuous stagnation of pharmacists by some hospital managements in tertiary and specialist health institutions against all known civil service regulations and despite various circulars by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) on this subject matter, and hereby calls on affected institutions to as a matter of urgency, implement in full, the circular on career progression for all our affected members.
• Lagos State was announced as host state for the 19th annual scientific conference billed for 2017.

CONCLUSION

The Chairman on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council wishes to thank the executive governor of Ogun State, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the first lady Dr. (Mrs) Folusho Amosun, all our invited guests as well as the generality of the good and peace loving people of Ogun State, for the hospitality and warm reception accorded delegates during the 18^th Annual Scientific Conference.  Special thanks to the keynote address speaker and all guest speakers and facilitators, corporate and individual sponsors, special donors, exhibitors, gentlemen of the press, conference planning committee (CPC) members, Local Planning Committee (LOC) members and all delegates and participants.

Pharm. Martin Oyewole                          Pharm. Jelili Kilani

National Chairman                                    National Secretary