…Advocates fair remuneration, digital transformation in pharmacy practice
Former Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University and respected pharmaceutical scholar, Prof. Chinedum Peace Babalola, has urged Nigerian pharmacists to reinvent themselves as value-driven healthcare partners capable of transforming patient outcomes beyond traditional dispensing roles.
Delivering the keynote address at the 98th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) held at Bayero University, Kano, with the theme, “Pharmacy Forward: Building a Future-Ready Workforce for Performance, Collaboration and Health Transformation”, Babalola called for urgent reforms in pharmacy education, professional welfare, and practice orientation.
“Pharmacy must move from product-based practice to value-based healthcare contribution, from transaction to transformation, and from behind the counter to beyond the counter,” she said. “We must provide value to people, and we too must be valued.”
Drawing from a pilot survey she conducted among young pharmacists, students, and members of the public, Babalola, the first female pharmacist professor to be appointed a vice-chancellor in Nigeria, 2017, identified both encouraging perceptions and structural challenges confronting the profession.
While 84 percent of respondents rated pharmacists as highly relevant to healthcare, customer satisfaction was rated at just 64 percent, with respondents citing poor attitude, limited patient engagement, and weak communication.
Among pharmacy students, 59 percent expressed dissatisfaction with short academic calendars, 54 percent lamented outdated laboratory equipment, and 38 percent described the curriculum as bulky and obsolete. Others called for stronger emphasis on digital health and artificial intelligence.
“Our students have passion but are weighed down by weaknesses in training and structure. Among practicing pharmacists, only 23 percent reported job satisfaction, while most cited poor remuneration and limited professional recognition. We cannot build a future-ready workforce under such conditions,” she noted.
The university don, who is a Fellow of both the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and the Nigerian Academy of Science, also decried the growing confidence gap among young pharmacists.
“Some pharmacists told me they wear stethoscopes only to feel confident. That shows an identity issue we must address through mentorship, capacity building, and stronger practical exposure,” she said.
To reposition pharmacy for greater relevance, she proposed curriculum renewal, industry–academia collaboration, and the introduction of practice professors in universities. She further recommended modular learning systems and digital immersion to align pharmacy education with contemporary global standards.
“We need to repackage our curriculum. Let students learn in modules, gain more field experience, and be assessed as professionals. Practitioners and academics must teach together — that’s how to produce confident, competent pharmacists,” she advised.
On the issue of welfare, Babalola highlighted the widening gap between pharmacists’ contributions to health and the value they receive, urging policymakers and employers to institute a fair and equitable remuneration framework that reflects pharmacists’ critical roles in patient care and public health.
“We can’t attract or retain the best minds without fair reward and recognition. Equity and professional respect are essential if we truly want a sustainable healthcare system,” she said.
While commending PSN leadership for its growing advocacy and innovation, Babalola urged the profession to measure success not by titles or hierarchy but by impact and value delivery.
“We must rebrand pharmacy. Let every outlet reflect excellence, technology, and compassion. People should proudly say ‘my pharmacist’ the same way they say ‘my doctor.’ That is the future we must build,” she concluded.
