Communiqué Of The 88th Annual National Conference Of The Pharmaceutical Society Of Nigeria (PSN) Tagged “Unity 2015” Held At The International Conference Centre, Abuja From 9 to 14 November, 2015
The theme of the conference was:
“Advancing Pharmacy Through Strategic Workforce Development In Practice Settings”
The conference was declared open by Mr Linus Awute, former permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Health.
Other dignitaries at the conference included: Mr Danladi Kifasi, CFR, former Head of Service of the Federation; Prof. Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission; Dr Yusuf Ramon, Director, Research and Innovation, National Universities Commission; Mrs Rukiyat Odekunle, Director of Procurement, Federal Ministry of Health; Pharm. (Dr) Joseph Odumodu, FPSN, Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria; Prof. K. S. Gamaniel, FPSN, Director General National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD); Pharm. N. A. E. Mohammed, FPSN, Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria; Mr Foluso Fasoto, President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria; Comrade B. Joy Josaiah, Chairman, Joint Health Sector Unions; Dr G. C. Okara, Chairman, Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations; Comrade (Dr) O. C. Ogbonna, President, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals; Dr Damian Echendu, President, Nigerian Optometric Association.
Also present were past presidents of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, including Pharm. (Prof.) E.O. Ogunlana, OON, FPSN, FPCPharm; Pharm. (Alh.) Mohammed Yaro Budah, FPSN, FPCPHARM. FNAPharm ,mni; Pharm. (Sir) Anthony Akhimien, FPSN, FPCPharm, FNAPharm,FNIM; Pharm. Azubike Okwor, FPSN, FPCPharm, FNAPharm, FFIP, FNIM and captains of the pharmaceutical industry
The keynote address was delivered by Pharm. (Prof.) Azuka Oparah, FPSN, FPCPharm of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin.
Conference deliberated on the theme and sub-themes of the Conference and other contemporary issues influencing health care and national development and made the following observations and recommendations:
- Conference affirmed that pharmaceutical care was the current philosophy of pharmacy practice worldwide. Pharmaceutical care affects the way pharmacists think and practice, irrespective of the practice setting. Conference reasoned that pharmaceutical care education in Nigeria should start with training the trainers, developing practice sites and should be student-centred as well as outcome-oriented.
Following from the above, conference once again appealed to the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) to formally recognised Pharm D programme so that the training of Nigerian pharmacists will be at par with what obtains in the contemporary world.
- Conference counselled the PCN to clearly define the syllabus and guidelines for the pre-registration examination ahead of its commencement, as this examination will become the final clearance house for all intern pharmacists with the advent of several public and private universities where pharmacists are trained which undoubtedly leaves a wide variation in the quality of students on admission and graduation.
- Conference challenged the PCN and other appropriate templates to develop a credentialing system for specialised pharmacists in line with the global trend in health care which encourage health professionals to specialise. Conference emphasised that the future of hospital pharmacy practice lies in creating various areas of specialisation to meet emerging challenges in the care process.
- Conference further posited on a dire need for pharmacists to embrace Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Conference adopted the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) model which defined CPD as “the responsibility of individual pharmacists for systematic maintenance, development and broadening of knowledge, skills and attitudes, to ensure continuing competence as professionals throughout their career”.
Conference mandated the PCN, Faculties of Pharmacy and West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) to inculcate an innovative approach, in addition to strong collaborations, to achieve these salient goals and objectives.
- Conference strongly urged the registry of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria to consolidate its modest gain in the areas of monitoring and control by extending its tentacle from seven states to all states of the federation, particularly the hotbeds of indecorum in the drug distribution chain, notably, Lagos, Anambra, Abia, Kano and similar states.
Conference admonished the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, NAFDAC, and Federal Ministry of Health, having been cognisant of the need for adequacy of regulatory instruments and the need for political will for enforcement of these instruments, to take full advantage of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines and the approved drug distribution flow chart to make history by ensuring that the foundation for a solid drug distribution channel is built and sustained in Nigeria.
- Conference hailed PSN/PCN collaboration which culminated in the ceding of MCPD points under PSN platform to registered pharmacists. Pharmacists under the aegis of PSN called on the PCN to hasten the gazette of the MCPD initiative and the pharmacists seal which will be a new regulatory tool to enhance quality control in the sourcing and distribution of medicines in our country.
- Conference critically appraised the PCN Act and the spirit of perpetual succession as regards the Governing Council of the PCN. Conference lamented the perennial disruption of the Governing Council through dissolution alongside boards of other parastatals. Conference put on record that the PCN mandate in pharmacy practice, training of pharmaceutical personnel and disciplinary matters is too germane to safety of lives of consumers to be compromised on altars of political expediency. Conference therefore called on the Federal Government to immediately reconstitute the PCN lawfully while respectfully soliciting adherence to the list of nominees forwarded by the PSN in tandem with existing statutes and norms.
- Conference approved the satellite pharmacy concept which is geared towards guaranteeing universal access to quality, safe, efficacious and affordable medicines in underserved communities in Nigeria. Conference in particular applauded the major objectives of the satellite pharmacy concept in the areas of the supervision of pharmaceutical service providers, the incorporation of task shifting and sharing into pharmaceutical service delivery as well as enhanced experiential teaching and learning.
- Conference endorsed the new drug distribution flow chart pattern as approved by the Federal Ministry of Health. Conference aligned with the various initiatives of the Regulators Forum with pharma stakeholders as facilitated by the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.
Conference encouraged the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria to continue to ventilate the pharmaceutical space with more ideas to ensure that a foolproof drug distribution model is developed ultimately in the best interest of the consumers of health in Nigeria.
- Conference canvassed improvement in immunisation policy through reaching every eligible population by reducing barriers (health system, physical, operational and community demand), establishing fixed outreach and mobile immunisations and reduce dropouts and missed opportunities for vaccinations, conduct regular supportive supervision, for periodically assessing and strengthening service providers and skills, attitudes and working conditions which includes regular onsite training, feedback and follow-up with staff.
Conference also insisted that planning for sustainable and equitable immunisation needed teamwork with community members taking into cognisance geographical accessibility, socio-economic and cultural factors.
Conference counselled on the need for the involvement of pharmacists alongside other care providers to achieve a key role of influencing attitudes of patients regarding appropriate immunisation.
- Conference advised the Federal Government to adopt Amoxicillin Dispersible Tablet and Lo-ORS/Zinc as First Line Treatment in Childhood Pneumonia & Diarrhoea respectively, in line with WHO/UNICEF Guidelines. Conference pleaded with members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, who are members of the National Standard Treatment Guidelines/Essential Medicines List Review Committee to Support the Adoption of the New WHO Guidelines that Recommends Amoxicillin Dispersible Tablet and Lo-ORS/Zinc as First Line Treatment in Childhood Pneumonia and Diarrhoea respectively.
- Conference called on the Federal Government to create Budget Lines and make Budgetary Provision for the Procurement and Distribution of these Essential Life-saving Child Health Commodities, Amoxicillin Dispersible Tablet and Lo-ORS/Zinc, through the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and Related Agencies Such as the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
Conference particularly encouraged Distinguished Members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria in the Manufacturing, Community and Hospital Pharmacies to Scaleup the Availability and Affordability of the Essential Life-saving Child Health Commodities, Amoxicillin Dispersible Tablet and Lo-ORS/Zinc.
- Conference evaluated the membership of the Federal Executive Council and reminded the Federal Government of the availability of an overwhelming preponderance of registered pharmacists who could assist President Buhari, GCFR to move the country forward at this critical junction in the political evolution of Nigeria. Conference conveyed hearty congratulations to members of the Federal Executive Council, especially the newly appointed ministers who are expected to assume office anytime from now.
- Conference congratulated Pharm. (Prince) Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, winner of the maiden Evergreen Award for Pharmacy Legends; Nkiruka Ozioma Ibeanu, winner of Best Graduating Student in all the seventeen faculties at University of Nigeria, Nsukka in the 2013/14 session; Mrs Chioma Umeha, pioneer recipient of the Ben Ukwuoma Memorial Award; Pharm. Folashade Lawal, 2015 winner of the May and Baker Award for Excellence, for her intellectual prowess that earned her the award.
Conference paid glowing tribute to Pfizer Nigeria and East Africa region for bestowing maiden honours on the reflected hospital and administrative as well as community pharmacists who have distinguished themselves over time – Pharm. (Mrs) Margaret Obono, Pharm. (Mrs) Olubukunola George, Pharm. (Mrs) B. F. O. Adeniran, Pharm. (Mrs.) Ololade Alabi, Pharm. Ogheneochuko Omaruaye, Pharm. Chuks Onyibe, Pharm. Uche Apakama, Pharm. Moshood Lawal, Pharm. Chris Ehimen and Pharm. Audu Mohammed.
- Conference thanked the wife of the Nigerian president – Her Excellency, Mrs Aisha Buhari, who participated in the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Health Walk of 9 November, 2015; former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Danladi Kifasi, CFR; former Permanent Secretary, Mr Linus Awute, mni; and Barr (Mrs) Mary Eta, for their hospitality which facilitated the success of the Conference.
At the end of the Conference, the AGM elected the following pharmacists to serve and pilot the affairs of the Society for the next one year:
- Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, FPSN, FNAPharm, FNIM – President
- Pharm. (Hon). John Enger, FPSN, -Deputy President North
- Pharm. (Dr) Otakho Daniel Orumwense, FPSN, FPCPharm – Deputy President South
- Pharm. Gbolagade Iyiola, MAW – National Secretary
- Pharm. Nwigudu Uzoma -Assistant National Secretary
- Pharm. Emeka Callistus Duru,MAW– National Treasurer
- Pharm. Tawa Idubor, Ph.D, FPSN –National Financial Secretary
- Pharm. Arinola Joda, MAW,FPCPharm, Ph.D -National Publicity Secretary
- Pharm. Bolajoko Aina, MAW,FPCPharm, Ph.D– Editor-In-Chief
- Pharm. Amid Olanrewaju Alege, MAW –Internal Auditor
- Pharm. Idris D. Pada, FPSN, FPCPharm– Unofficial Member
- Pharm. Victor Okwuosa, FPSN Unofficial Member
- Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, FPSN, FPCPharm, FNAPharm, FNIM- Immediate Past President
___________________________
PHARM. OLUMIDE AKINTAYO,FPSN, FPCPHARM, FNAPharm, FNIM
PRESIDENT
PHARM. GBOLAGADE IYIOLA,MAW
NATIONAL SECRETARY
Signed
Friday, November 13, 2015
