Pharmacists in the country have been enjoined to take over control of herbal medicine from non-professionals and semi-literate practitioners.

Speaking at a two-day workshop jointly organised by the West Africa Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) at the college’s secretariat in Yaba on 26 May, Prof. Mbang Femi-Oyewo, dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) said pharmacists cannot afford to have non-professionals dictating the pace when it comes to the issue of herbal medicine.

“I am happy that Nigerians are beginning to look towards herbal medicine these days. Unfortunately, those who didn’t go to school are the ones controlling things. This is why we need to take over as professionals and do things the way they are supposed to be done. They must be well formulated, properly labelled, safe for use and quite affordable,” she noted.

When reminded how expensive herbal research and production can be, the dean remarked that while the observation is true, pharmacists know better than to despise the days of humble beginning.

“It has been done in many countries, especially China and India. They have equally discovered that there are some herbal products that are quite nutritional; hence the influx of what we know today as Nutri-ceuticals.

“I think the problem that often arises is that of safety measures and documentation. The truth is that herbs work in a subtle way. Some give instant relief while others take some time. But if it is obvious that you are not getting result, it is time to seek help from physicians,” she said.

Prof. (Mrs) Cecilia Igwilo, chairman, WAPCP’s Faculty of Drug Production and Quality Assurance, also affirmed that Nigeria had been using herbal products for quite a long time.

“It is a known fact that people in the rural and even some urban areas use a lot of herbal medicine. As expected, we have herbs for headache, stomach upset and several ailments.

“For instance, I use ‘efirin’ (basil plant) whenever I have a mild stomach upset. One important thing to note is that there are several benefits attached to the use of medicinal plants like bitter leaf, kola, garlic, ginger and the likes,” she hinted.

On the desired properties of a good herbal formulation, Dr Chuks Azubuike, a senior lecturer in the Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Lagos (UNILAG), stressed that such must be accepted, economical for large scale manufacture, chemically and physically packaged, preserved against microbial contamination, able to provide correct dose of drug and therapeutically correct.

In a related development, Prof. Udoma Mendie, former dean, UNILAG’s Faculty of Pharmacy harped on packaging and safety of herbal products, saying a good herbal product must have anti-counterfeiting features, Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) anti-tampering device and child-resistant packaging.

Congratulating participants at the workshop, Pharm Iyiola Gbolagade, PSN national secretary said he was certain that much knowledge had been received.

“I don’t want to agree with the perception that Nigerians have negative feeling towards herbal medicine. Everything you get from herbs is not necessarily fetish and it has nothing to do with witchcraft.

“I recall that the first thing our people do whenever a woman gives birth is to go and cut roots and leaves to be boiled for her. It has nothing to do with incantation or charms. It is as good as orthodox medicine,” he said.

The PSN secretary however observed that the only challenge that needs to be addressed is ensuring that herbal practitioners are producing and giving people the right formulations.

“That is where I believe we need to work on. For instance, as a community pharmacist, when people approach us with complaints about an ailment, we always want to find out whether they have taken a pain reliever like paracetamol or herbs before coming,” he said.

He berated self-styled herbal practitioners hawking suspicious contents they describe as herbs in little containers and selling especially to the public.

“What we want to ensure is that they are not just concocting all sorts of rubbish and giving to people. We are concerned about safety. That is why PSN is proudly collaborating with WAPCP.

“In Nigeria, the common denominator of what people do is money. That is why we are saying pharmacists, whom herbal medicine is supposed to be in their purview by virtue of our training, should take up the gauntlet and challenge the quacks,” he charged.

Expressing satisfaction with the two-day seminar, Prof. Wilson Erhun, WAPCP secretary general reported that research has shown that the use of herbal products is on the increase.

“People are having increased confidence in the use of herbal products. We seem to have a gap in terms of validation when it comes to safety and good quality. That demands empowerment.

“What the college is doing now is to try and empower pharmacists and herbal practitioners to be able to focus on these products so that they will be safer for consumption,” he emphasised.

Erhun also announced that WAPCP was reaching out to all the countries that are involved (as seen in an earlier presentation on Sierra Leone) which are at a disadvantaged position compared to Nigeria.

“We are trying to equip more of these countries. Herbal production is more of research and development. When you look at the likes of China and India, it is not as if their products are superior to ours,” he said.

The WAPCP secretary however conceded that funding is a challenge, adding that once there is no funding, research becomes a problem.

Also in attendance at the event were Prof Olukemi Odukoya, former dean of UNILAG Faculty of Pharmacy; Pharm. Wilson Ukachi, WAPCP administrative manager; Ibeji Ifeoma, WAPCP account officer; and Dare Kute, WAPCP administrative assistant.

Clara is a young lady who resides with her family in the same estate as D-Line Pharmacy & Stores in Port Harcourt.  Being a community pharmacy, the members of Clara’s family are regular customers of Pharmacist Donald and his staff.  It is well known that Clara has suffered from a psychiatric condition and has been admitted to a hospital for this cause in the past.

Early one morning, Clara walks into the pharmacy and requests for some antimalarial medication.  She meets Pharmacist Donald on duty and informs him that she has a fever.  She also complains of intense fatigue.  After selecting the antimalarial drug of her choice and two bottles of orange juice, she pays for them.  Pharmacist Donald adds a can of energy drink, as a gift, to help with the fatigue.

Later that afternoon, Clara returns to D-Line Pharmacy with the goods she had purchased in the morning.  This time, she claims that she is not suffering from a fever and proceeds to demand for a refund of the payment she has made.  Pharmacist Donald is shocked at this development and refuses to refund the money paid.  Instead, he insists that she will now have to pay for the energy drink he gave her, which apparently she did not return with.

Considering the subject of capacity to contract, what would be the legal position of these two parties?

As previously stated, a contract is an agreement which is binding at law.  However, even when all the ingredients of a valid contract are present, it may not be enforceable against certain categories of people like infants, lunatics, drunkards and the illiterate.

The issues to be considered in this case are:

1. The meaning of lunacy or mental disorder.
2. The legal position of contracts made by lunatics.
3. The intention of the seller to enter into legal relations.

First of all, it is important to properly define a lunatic or mentally disordered person, according to the law.  In the Mental Health Act, U.K. 1959, the term “mental disorder” is very loosely expressed.  Under the Act, mental disorder is defined as “any disorder or disability of mind.”

The concept of mental disorder, as defined by the Act, does not necessarily correspond to medical categories.  However, mental disorder is thought by most psychiatrists to cover schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, major depression, bipolar disorder and other similar illnesses, learning disability and personality disorders.

Concerning business transactions, contracts involving a lunatic or a person with mental disorder can be divided into two types: contracts for necessaries and contracts for other things.  In the case of contracts for necessaries, the person with mental disorder is bound like everyone else.  Section 2 of the Sale of Goods Act 1893 provides that where necessaries are sold and delivered to a person “who by reason of mental incapacity or drunkenness is incompetent to contract, he must pay a reasonable price therefore.” The case of Chapple v. Cooper has helped to define necessaries as “those without which an individual cannot reasonably exist.”

For cases involving contracts for other things, the guiding rules were laid down in the case of Brown v. Jodrell and further established by Melton v. Camrout.  Where goods are not necessary goods, the mentally disordered person is also bound by his contracts, unless he can show that: 1) owing to his mental condition, he did not understand what he was doing; and 2) the other party was aware of his incapacity.

In the case of Clara and D-Line Pharmacy & Stores, three separate sets of items were received by the buyer proceeding from the transaction.  The first is the antimalarial medication.  The second consists of the bottles of orange juice.  The third is a can of energy drink offered by the seller.

The first set, by definition, would be classified as necessaries, being medication required for the existence of the individual involved.  Going by the provisions of the Sale of Goods Act, necessary goods sold are to be paid for (as long as the price is reasonable) regardless of the incapacitation of the buyer.

The second set of goods, however, would be governed by different rules.  The transaction for the bottles of juice, not being necessaries, would not be as strict.  In this case, the buyer, a mentally disordered person, can be released from her obligation to pay for the goods if she can prove that: 1) she did not know what she was doing at the time of purchase; and 2) the seller was aware of her medical condition.

The third category of goods consists of the energy drink which was freely given by Pharmacist Donald on conclusion of the sales.  This introduces the issue of the intention of the seller to enter into legal relations.  In the Rhodes Case of 1889, it was declared that the obligation of the buyer (mentally incapacitated) would not arise unless it was the intention of the person supplying the goods that he should be repaid.  In other words, he must not have intended to play the role of benefactor but that of creditor.

In the light of the foregoing, Clara is bound by her contract for the purchase of antimalarial drugs (being necessaries).  The contract for the sale of orange juice is valid but voidable at her option, if she can satisfy the required conditions.  And she is under no obligation to pay for the energy drink, being a gift freely received.

Principles and cases are from Sagay: Nigerian Law of Contract.

Arthur C. Clarke was the first, in 1956, to write on the nanotechnology concept, in a short story called “The Next Tenants”. This is considered to be the first work of fiction broadly describing what is today known as nanotechnology. Today, the application of nanotechnology is gaining prominence in the pharmaceutical and health care industries as it offers some exciting possibilities that were only imagined decades ago. For example, Nanosensors have been developed to monitor inflammatory diseases by checking the level of nitric oxide in the bloodstream, using carbon nanotubes embedded in a gel that can be injected under the skin.

Nanotechnology is the study, design, synthesis, manipulation, and application of functional materials at nanometer scale, where one nanometer equals to a billionth of a meter. Imagine the largest nano base material which has a size of 100nm is about half the size of smallest cellular form in existence – the bacteria called mycoplasma which has a diameter of 200nm. Many functional nanomaterials, also called nanoparticles (NPs), having the size of macromolecules such as DNA and proteins, have been developed.

Nanoparticles have unique mechanical, optical, magnetic, electrical and biochemical properties, making them suitable in drug delivery systems, diagnostics & monitoring techniques, bio-sensing (biosensors), blood purification, cell repair and tissue engineering. This emerging field of medicine, commonly called nanomedicine, is attracting great interest from researchers as it has opened up new vistas in chemotherapy, providing the possibility of delivering and targeting pharmaceutical, therapeutical and diagnostic agents to cancer cells.

Drug delivery

Nanoparticles have been successfully used as drug delivery materials because of their high drug-carrying capacity and stability in the blood stream. The surface of nanoparticles are usually coated with ligands to enhance their affinity towards specific cells and co-polymers and to protect them from immune cells. The self-controlling system of drug releasing helps to reduce the plasma fluctuation and minimises the side effects.

Nanoparticles used in drug delivery include polymers in drug delivery system (DDS) such as polymeric miscelles, polymeric NPs, polymeric drug conjugates, dendrimers, nano crystals and lipid-based NPs like liposomes and solid lipids nanoparticles. These types of nano particles are organic based, whereas inorganic based nanoparticles include silica base materials such as Xerogels and mesoporous silica NPs, and Metal NPs such as gold, silver, iron, platinum, quantum dots.

Mode of application

Nanoparticles can be incorporated, encapsulated, conjugated, or absorbed with drugs, using different techniques such as electrospinning technique (electrospunnanofibres), nano-precipitation technique, emulsification based methods, layer by layer synthesis, non-covalent complexation and conjugation to polymeric carrier via liable linkers.

The resulting formulation constitutes a drug delivery systems which have the ability to recognise and deliver the active drug to the target cell by receptor mediated endocytosis. The localised therapeutic activity ensures reduced toxic side effects, provide improved therapeutic index, reduced drug dosage, and ultimately reduces the cost of drugs. These merits have led to the more precise and improved treatments of conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes among others.

References

1. Wanigasekara J and Witharana C. (2016) “Applications of Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and Design – An Insight” Current Trends in Biotechnology and Pharmacy Vol. 10 (1) 78-91
2. Earl Boysen of Hawk’s Perch Technical Writing, LLC. “Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery” http://www.understandingnano.com/nanotechnology-drug-delivery.html
3. Wikipedia “Nanomedicine”
4. https://commonfund.nih.gov/nanomedicine/overview.aspx
5. http://www.associates-degree-in-nursing.org/nanomedicine/

…As Yakasai urges young pharmacists to make a difference

Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, president of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPharm) has expressed disappointment that no other pharmacist has been able to make it to the status of health minister almost 23 years after he occupied  the same  position.

Addressing participants at a recent mentoring programme organised by NAPharm, in Lagos, Adelusi-Adeluyi, a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) charged the gathering of young pharmacists to learn from the lapses of older colleagues and hit the ground running.

“As young people, I want you to go in pursuit of happiness. Unless you lack confidence, pharmacists can hold their own anywhere in the world. As pharmacists, we need to always be on our guard. There was a time that I was the only black pharmacist attending international Federation of Pharmacists (FIP) meetings.

“Twenty-three years ago, I was made a federal minister of health. However I am not happy that since then no pharmacist has made it to that position again,” he bemoaned.

While acknowledging the fact that pharmacists had been generally marginalised in political appointments, the managing director of Juli Pharmacy disclosed that it was high time pharmacists started giving serious consideration to politics too.

The NAPharm president however singled out the duo of Tolu Ogunlesi, presidential aide on new media and Jimi Agbaje, former Lagos gubernatorial candidate, for making the profession proud.

“Pharmacy is indeed a profession to be proud of. At least, I can say that I am impressed with Tolu Ogunlesi. He is an epitome of pharmacy excellence. Jimi Agbaje is another person I respect so much,” he said.

Buttressing his view, Pharm Ahmed Yakasai, president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) encouraged young pharmacists to launch out and make the difference.

“Anybody can be successful if they push hard. As young people, the time we spend on social media running ourselves down will do us no good. Don’t join those who sit and keep lamenting that the older pharmacists are not doing enough for them,” he remarked.

While charging young pharmacists to be responsible professionals, the PSN president stressed that they should aim to emulate the online exploits of the likes of HealthPlus and MedPlus.

“Please don’t get me wrong. I am not trying to promote or hold brief for anybody. But it is good to say the truth in whatever form it comes. Let me also say that I am impressed with what Pharm. Seun Omobo and Young Pharmacists Group are doing by sponsoring people to the annual FIP event,” he stated.

The need to advance the national health care emergency system of African countries, in order to forestall a continental epidemic, was the focus of the two-day workshop on emergency health system in Africa.

The seminar, which was organised by the Association Of Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria (AGCPN) in conjunction with Pfizer Plc, was well attended by experts on the subject.

According to the President of AGCPN and Professor of Radiation  Medicine at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Prof. Ifeoma Okoye, the need for an effective and efficient health emergency system is indispensable,  to the overall healthcare service delivery.

Okoye argued that continuous neglect of health emergency will have negative effect across broad spectrum in the health sector.

She added that “there is the need for capacity development both human and infrastructural, with clinical trial as a fulcrum towards addressing future public health emergencies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“There is the need for close collaboration between public and private establishments/sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa towards combating and reducing mortality and morbidity.

Also, Prof. Maurice Iwu harped on the need to enhance modulation in tracking diseases as well as the introduction of microbiota system. He noted that there is an urgent need for concerted efforts in improving healthcare emergency in the sector for optimum results.

The participants also emphasized  on how pertinent it is  for  all tiers of Governments, NGO and private partners to support clinical trials and research generally across Sub-Saharan Africa.

For some days now, news of a teenage girl, Amina Ibrahim, who died of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, has become the talk of medical parlance, and of national concern. The poor girl ended up a consumed prey of this rare medical condition after being attended to, for cold and cough, by a quack chemist who, shortly after Amina was terribly down with this condition and was no more, disappeared into thin air. This occurrence, albeit very unfortunate, is very didactic for the Nigerian populace as far as rational and irrational drug use is concerned, and points to the very reason why qualified health care practitioners should, under all circumstances, be our first and last point of call for any of our health issues, and more importantly, why it behoves the medical personnel to improve their modus operandi.

Poised to provide an enabling environment for teaching and learning, the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, has donated the sum of Two million, Five hundred thousand naira, to support the procurement of  a bus for the faculty.

The event, which took place at the Faculty of Pharmacy, on May 26, 2016, was attended by the executive members of the Alumni Association of the faculty, Dean of the faculty; Pharm (Prof.) Chinedum P. Babalola, FPSN, heads of departments in the faculty , executive members of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students, UI Chapter, representatives of the Director of Public Communication of the University of Ibadan and the Executive Officer of the Alumni Association of the University of Ibadan.

President of the Alumni Association; Pharm Olanrewaju Tiamiyu, while handing over the cheque to the Dean of Pharmacy, re-echoed the focus of the Alumni, which was saddled on helping the faculty and by extension, the University. Pharm. Tiamiyu mentioned that the most pressing need of the faculty was the procurement of a bus, which the faculty has been unable to procure in over 30 years of its existence. Though the Alumni executive was re-inaugurated in 2013, Pharm Tiamiyu mentioned that the collaborative efforts put in by all members of the Alumni, including the Board of Trustees, to ensure the success of the donation was just a tip of the ice berg.

Pharm (Prof.) Chinedum P. Babalola, while receiving the cheque applauded the Alumni for their efforts in assisting to provide an enabling environment for teaching and learning in the faculty. She mentioned that the faculty was able to raise some funds for bus procurement during the 30^th Anniversary of the faculty, but needed more funds to actualize the dream of having a bus to convey the students on outside postings and visits to community pharmacies.

Miss Bolutife Adedeji, the General Secretary of PANS, thanked the Alumni for the gesture and was hopeful that when the bus is eventually purchased, it will go a long way in alleviating the sufferings that the students go through in boarding public buses to go for external postings, ward-rounds and internships.

1st law: Conmen and salesmen are the same, except for integrity

People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude. – John C. Maxwell

In the sales world, integrity is everything. When we talk about successful relationships, whether in business or in our private lives, we talk about integrity. Integrity is not a common commodity. It is a product that lives inside the mind of a great man. It is a character trait that emanates from inside that overcomes the outside.

Integrity is rare, thus upheld by few; don’t expect it from everyone. Integrity is not riches, yet it is greater than wealth! It is an attribute that doesn’t come easily. Integrity is not a skill; it is a consistent character trait that distinguishes an individual. It is for individuals who want to prove a point even if they are standing alone.

Integrity is one thing everyone wants to see in any deal. Businesspeople want integrity. Spouses go for integrity. Students want integrity in their teachers. Followers want to follow a leader they can trust. Everyone is talking about the importance of integrity. Once integrity is missing, everything is gone!

Integrity covers every gap.  It fixes every other weakness. In the scale of leadership, integrity is rated higher than skill. A lot of people have skills but only few can boast of integrity. A man of integrity could be pardoned in other areas of weakness.

Integrity is the starting point in any appraisal. Deficiency in integrity affects other areas negatively. Integrity is one of the foremost qualities of a successful salesman. A salesman who shows a character of integrity will stand out always; he will command a lot of followership. Integrity has its place in the journey of success. No matter what you do or where you see yourself, once integrity is absent, everything is lost!

In sales, buyers buy from the salesman or company they can trust. This is a given. Sales activities happen everywhere and all the time. We close deals daily and on many occasions. Some deals could turn out as expected while some will furnish us with experiences.

The first unbreakable law of sales talks about two words: Conman and salesman. These two words could be grouped together because of the word ‘‘man’;’ but each one has its peculiarities. The salesman is in the business of selling and providing value to his customers, while the conman is in the business of deceit.

Integrity is the outstanding word that makes the difference in the first law of sales. It is the word that separates the salesman from the conman. The conman and salesman have some things in common. They sell products. They send proposals to their targets. They attend business meetings. But there still exists a difference. While the salesman sells truthfulness, the conman sells dishonesty! This is the distinguishing factor that separates the two.

It is important to note that when a salesman loses the essence of true salesmanship which hinges on integrity, then there will be need to redefine who he really is!  Real selling is Integrity. Anything else is deceit!

Conmen have their selling strategies! They are also innovative. They apply ‘‘reasonable level of ingenuity’’ to ensure they convince their victims. The advancement in technology has also expanded conmen’s trade. They now have the ability to send out thousands of ‘‘fake’’ business proposals. Their proposals come with punchy benefits! All these do not change anything. A conman is a conman; his attributes are consistently negative! He loses because he lacks integrity which is the soul of business. Conmen never keep to their words. Their main stock in trade is falsehood. The answer to sales success still dwells on integrity.

A professional salesman is a man of his words. He goes all-out to keep his words. The salesman who demonstrates an attitude of integrity to buyers wins their hearts. Buyers will buy and continue the buying experience from the salesman when integrity is intact.

In the business of selling, the importance of Integrity cannot be overemphasised. The more buyers believe you, the more you succeed. Be believable!

George O. Emetuche is chief executive salesman, The Selling Champion Consulting Limited. He is a Brian Tracy-endorsed bestselling author, sales trainer, motivational speaker, and sales and marketing consultant. www.thesellingchampionconsulting.com

In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, Pharm. Olanrewaju Jonathan Ofi, chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Ekiti State Chapter discusses a number of issues relating to community pharmacy practice in Ekiti State. The managing director of Lanre & Lanre Pharmacy and Stores, Ado-Ekiti, also enumerated the multifaceted benefits of the chain pharmacy concept, as well as why he thinks the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) should halt issuing of licences to patent medicine dealers in urban areas of the state. Excerpts:

 Tell us about your pharmacy – how was it at the beginning?

After my internship stints at the State Specialist Hospital, Ondo, Central Medical Stores, Ado Ekiti and Ondo State Ministry of Health, Pharmacy Division, Akure, where I spent four months respectively, I was offered employment at the State Specialist Hospital, Ondo. But I was only able to work there briefly because I got a better offer from a particular community pharmacy called Glory Pharmacy and Stores, Ondo State then. So, I was at Glory Pharmacy and Stores as a superintendent pharmacist for four years before I started my own Pharmacy, Lanre & Lanre Pharmacy & Stores in 1993.

At the beginning, it was interesting because, despite the fact that Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) drugs were available in the hospitals, prescriptions were still coming and people were patronising us because of our location. Patients had confidence  in us. They believed they could always buy genuine and quality drugs from us; so the patronage then was high.

However, in 2008, due to the road dualisation exercise embarked upon by the then state government, part of my pharmacy was demolished; and for good eight months, the pharmaceutical business was paralysed and some of the drugs expired. I was devastated.

Not long after, through the grace of God, I was able to raise some money and I spent so much on renovation with the approval of the state government. Unfortunately, however, another government came in 2011 and demolished the whole complex with the excuse of wanting to plant flowers to beautify Ado Ekiti, the state capital. Sadly, till today the flowers have not been planted.

Really, it is the grace of God that has made us to remain in existence and is still sustaining the pharmacy up till today.

 It’s been a year since you became the chairman of ACPN in Ekiti State, how would you describe the journey so far?

The journey has not been easy, but in the area of achievements, we have been able to bring ACPN into the limelight through our various activities in the state, especially our monthly meetings. We are now visible and we have good working relationship with our parent body, the PSN.

Admittedly, there were some major challenges that I faced when I assumed office, including lack of finance and low turn-out of members at monthly meetings. But I am thankful to God who has been sustaining us and I also appreciate my members for the trust they have in me and their cooperation so far.

It has always been my policy since I assumed this position to ensure that names and contacts of all members are included in the minutes of our monthly meetings, so as to regularly keep in touch with them and constantly furnish them with information about the association from time to time.

In terms of finance, ACPN-Ekiti is presently not owing a dime, as we have cleared all our debts that were outstanding before we came in. Another major issue is that of pharmacists from neighbouring states who wanted to come to Ekiti State to practise dual registration, that is, “register and go”. To prevent this, we now make every pharmacist registering an outlet to sign a printed undertaking that they will attend the monthly meetings and possibly reside in the state. This is to allow them work for the money they earn and to discharge their professional duties as the superintendent pharmacists at their duty posts. To God be the glory we are moving the profession and the association forward in the state.

 What is your assessment of community pharmacy practice in Ekiti?

Community practice in Ekiti is making tremendous progress. We now have pharmacies that are owned and managed by pharmacists in the state and they are doing well – unlike what obtained in the past, when we used to have numerous pharmacies owned by non-pharmacists flourishing at the expense of the professionals. There is a better future for community pharmacy in the state, especially in the rural areas where there are no pharmacy outlets.

 What would you say are the peculiar challenges facing community pharmacy practice in the state?

Access to high quality, efficacious and safe medicines remains a major concern worldwide. In Ekiti State, pharmaceutical premises are concentrated (about 70 per cent) mainly in the capital town, Ado-Ekiti. We are therefore urging and appealing to pharmacists to open pharmacies in the rural areas of the state also, so as to fulfill the global requirements of pharmaceutical care.

More importantly, professional indiscipline and lack of adherence to ethical issues (such as abetting charlatans) remain a big challenge. Also, there is the issue of the Rx sign, which is a symbol for quality products and excellent professional pharmaceutical care and service, but which some outlets are yet to embrace. This is quite worrisome because the symbol is part pf what distinguishes us from charlatans.

I also think community pharmacy outlets should be restricted to pharmacists, so as to prevent the issue of price competition. We have found out that some non-pharmacist-owned retail outlets sell at wholesale prices, thereby attracting more customers to their premises. I would equally advise existing community pharmacies to work on improving the facilities in their premises, so as to make their premises befit a standard pharmacy outlet and not a patent medicine shop.

 How lucrative is community pharmacy business in the state?

Community pharmacy business is very lucrative in Ekiti. As community pharmacists, we have many areas to cover in the sub-urban centres, as the capital city is saturated with patent and proprietary medicine vendors who outnumber community pharmacists.

Let me also quickly say that the PCN must stop issuing patent medicine licences in urban areas and the capital town. Also, the distance between two patent medicine shops should be increased to 800 metres in radius and 1000 metres to a pharmacy.

The chain pharmacy idea is becoming increasingly popular, how do you see the development?

It is a good development in the country because this is a system where a corporate organisation owns more than two stores with pharmacists in charge. It is a good development since pharmacists will always be on duty to attend to patients and to be in personal control of the premises. More pharmacists will be employed and this will reduce unemployment in Nigeria. Also, patients and the general public will be willing to patronise pharmacies where experts are available to provide safe medicine and pharmaceutical care.

In addition, there will be no room for any pharmacist to condone or assist in the manufacture, importation, distribution, sales or dispensing of drugs which are not of good quality. The ‘register and go’ syndrome will also be discouraged.

Furthermore, the concept will stimulate healthy competition among pharmacists. It will motivate existing community pharmacies to improve their facilities and the quality of their services, thereby enhancing community pharmacy practice in Nigeria. Very importantly, though, government should allow only indigenous pharmacists to establish chain pharmacies for now.

 You must have set some objectives for yourself at the beginning of your tenure, how far have you achieved them?

I took over as chairman a year ago and, while some of our objectives are still in the pipeline, others are presently being implemented. Our objectives include a programme called ‘Access to Pharmacists is Access to Health’. It is a programme in which access to medicine in the sub-urban and rural areas will be encouraged. This is to uphold pharmacy best practices by spreading the tenets to the rural areas to influence access to good medicine and pharmaceutical care.

Also, to avoid this profession being hijacked by charlatans, the regulatory authorities will be supported to carry out their functions effectively and efficiently. We are ready to partner effectively with regulatory bodies like NAFDAC, NDLEA, PCN, PIC and others in their anti-counterfeiting efforts.

Community pharmacists will also try all possible areas to invest through partnership. This is to help saturate distribution channels with professionals in the rural areas through personal cash savings, cooperative loans, supplier credits, loans from financial institutions with little interest.

Community pharmacists will equally be encouraged to participate in public health programmes such as the National Programme on immunisation and the Roll Back Malaria initiatives, as well as in policy formulation and implementation in the state.

 What is your assessment of the health care sector in Ekiti?

Health care delivery should be a teamwork because every professional has his or her role to play, and this role should be patient-focused. Unfortunately, the pattern in the state is the same as at the federal level.

A major challenge facing pharmacy profession in Nigeria is the problem of drug counterfeiting, how can this challenge be surmounted?

The National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG) is one programme that if well implemented, will solve the problem of fake and counterfeit drugs in the country. All pharmacists should support it and ensure it is well implemented so that it will benefit the professionals, as well as the general populace.

Also the state government should fund the State Task Force on fake and unwholesome products, while the regulatory authorities should carry out their functions effectively and efficiently.

In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, Pharm. Sesan Kareem, prolific author and personal assistant to the PSN President, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, speaks on several pertinent issues in pharmacy education and practice – especially as it relates to young pharmacists in Nigeria. He also expresses his delight as PA to the PSN president. Excerpts:

What prompted your decision to study Pharmacy?  

I have a rich background in natural medicine. My great grandma and my mum were vast in using herbs, leaves, vegetables and other natural medicines to help people live healthy. I saw an opportunity in pharmacy profession to leverage my lineage’s rich experience to provide efficacious and safe natural remedies for various ailments. That was why I decided to study Pharmacy.

Pharmacy has always been my dream course and I’m very proud to be a pharmacist, although, my parents – especially my mum – wanted me to study Medicine, because one of my distant uncles, Dr Sunny Kuku is a very successful doctor. He is one of the owners of the EKO Hospital. The truth of the matter is if I were to go back to university again as an undergraduate I would still have studied Pharmacy.

 What has been your experience since you graduated from pharmacy school?

My experience since I graduated from pharmacy school has been diverse and rich. I worked for three years in community practice – JMK pharmaceutical limited, Magodo, as a locum pharmacist. I had my internship at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). I served as a youth corps member in Imo State. Presently, I’m in administrative practice, working for the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) as personal assistant to the President of PSN, Pharm.  Ahmed Yakasai.

I’m also an entrepreneur, author, trainer and youth advocate. I registered my company, Mareek Image Concepts (MIC) with the Corporate Affairs Commission in July, 2013. Our focus includes publishing, training and coaching. I’ve authored some books. I’m a wellness and healthy living facilitator for the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), an expert freelance trainer of the London Professional Training Centre (LPTC), as well being the convener, Motivating the Nigerian Youth, a movement that has trained over 3,000 young Nigerians on leadership and self-development for free.

 What is your motivation for book writing as a pharmacist?

What really motivates me as a person is to help people grow, learn, develop and become better. I’ve authored and published five books – “Maximise Your life”, “Grab Your Destiny”, “Life Is Short, But It’s Really Worth It”, “With Patience You Are A Winner”, and “The Secrets Of A Fulfilled Life.”

I’ve just finished the writing processes of my sixth book – and my first health book – “The Secrets of a Great Health”. My third book, “Life Is Short, But It’s Really Worth It” was published by United PC., United Kingdom, and the book is available across the world. Others were published here in Nigeria. My purpose is to equip and educate people to discover, develop and deploy their inherent greatness in order to achieve their full potentials and make a difference. My values are service, sincerity, simplicity, ingenuity, constant growth, continuing development and team work. I hold on to the philosophy that man should beware of what lies before him, and what lies behind him, but, above all, he should beware of what lies with him.

 You were appointed personal assistant to the PSN President, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, last year; how would you describe your experience so far working with him?

Honestly, it is a great honour to be appointed by my mentor, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, as his personal assistant. Pharm. Yakasai is an astute leader, a business tycoon, a man of the people with vast experience and incredible achievements; but above all, he is a perfect gentleman.

You know it takes only great leaders to attract emerging leaders (smile). I was informed by another mentor of mine, Pharm. Ifeanyi Atueyi, that I would be the first pharmacist to be appointed as personal assistant to the PSN president in the 89 long years history of the Society. That shows you that Pharm. Yakasai is a trailblazer.

My experience so far working with him has been exciting and challenging. I have learnt a lot and I am learning immensely from him. His managerial and leadership skills, boardroom presence and administrative prowess have helped me to become a better leader, manager, administrator and thinker. I also believe I will continue to contribute my own quota to make sure the vision of Pharm. Yakasai of taking PSN to the next level is sustained.

Furthermore, I believe with every fibre of my being that by the time Pharm. Yakasai will end his administration as President of the PSN, I would have become better in all ramifications..

 What would you say are the challenges facing young pharmacists in Nigeria and how can these challenges be surmounted?

The number one challenge facing many young pharmacists in Nigeria is internship placement. Last year, I wrote a series of articles in Pharmanews on this and I proffered solutions. Let me paraphrase briefly some of my recommendations. One, exponential increase in the number of centres of internship placements; two, geometrical increase in the number of interns employed by tertiary and secondary health institutions; three, careful planning by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) on the population of young pharmacists expected to graduate each year with corresponding internship placements/opportunities, using the Law School as a model; and four, willingness of newly inducted pharmacy graduates to go outside their comfort zone for internship experience, stop putting money first when looking for placement and start as soon as they see any opportunity.  My other recommendations can be read online.

The second challenge is the issue of “register and go” syndrome and the only solution to that is to encourage “register and stay” among pharmacists.

Thirdly, I believe as young pharmacists, we should put our resources, talents and expertise together. It is high time we started thinking of collaboration and partnership in order to achieve something substantial and tangible in the pharmaceutical sector – just as Fola Adeola, Femi Pedro and others did in the banking sector in the late ‘80s with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).

As a trained pharmacist, what is your preferred area of practice and why?

I’m currently practising as a pharmacist (smiles). However, going forward, my long-term goal is manufacturing of natural remedies of world class standard for local consumption and export across the globe. The reason is that the world is going green and the best cure to major ailments is in nature.

Natural remedies are safe and efficacious with fewer side-effects. Large scale manufacturing is also a very rewarding business, though it requires a lot of investment. In the medium term, I will look at importation of natural supplements and exportation of natural pharmaceutical active ingredients and excipients. In the short term, a world class community pharmacy.

However, I will still continue to write books, teach, train and inspire people because that connects me to the core of my existence.

As part of its commitment to improving the ethical and entrepreneurial acumen of its members, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Ipaja-Dopemu-Egbeda-Akowonjo (IDEA) Zone, recently held its 8th Annual Pharmaceutical Business Growth Seminar.

The seminar, themed “Growing Trans-Generational Pharmacy”, was held at Jjag Hall, Shasha, Lagos  and had in attendance eminent personalities and stakeholders in the pharmacy profession.

Dignitaries at the event included Pharm. Deji Oshinoiki, father of the day; Pharm. Olateju Olakiigbe, managing director, Egbeda Pharmacy and chairman of the occasion; Pharm. (Mrs) Folashade Lawal, MD/CEO, Victory Drugs Limited; Pharm. Ike Onyechi, (FPSN), chairman, Alpha Pharmacy and Stores Limited; Pharm. Gbenga Olubowale, Lagos PSN chairman, represented by Pharm. Oyekunle Babayemi; Pharm. Abiola Paul-Ozieh, chairman, ACPN, Lagos State; and Pharm. Madehin Olanrewaju Gafar, among others.

In his lecture which had the same title as the theme of the event, Pharm. Ike Onyechi, who described trans-generational pharmacy as a process of running a pharmacy business that outlives the owner noted that certain factors are essential to making a pharmacy business trans-generational.

“The pharmacy business should be structured in a way that when the owner dies, the business continues thriving, while the family keeps the business going in such a way that the vision and aspirations of the owner is well sustained,” he said, adding that it’s quite unfortunate that only 30 per cent of businesses in Nigeria survive the second generation, with 10 per cent surviving the third generation, and only three per cent surviving the fourth generation.

Using the example of Alpha Pharmacy Limited, the former chairman, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), Nigeria Chapter, said a business must be built on the right foundation and according to God’s dictate.

He added that pharmacists must have sound knowledge of management, planning and marketing in order to run a successful trans-generational business.

“Community pharmacists must be readily available to give sound, professional advice and to help their clients deal with everyday health concerns and problems facing them,” he advised.

The doyen of retail pharmacy further told participants how Alpha Pharmacy Limited was doing all within its power not to become old-fashioned, saying that he had to rebuild the company’s Enugu Branch, furnished it to taste and moved it to a permanent site.

“Alpha Pharmacy and Stores Limited was founded in 1985 as a small outlet on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, but today, the retail outfit has grown into a large community pharmacy store and a respected wholesaler and distributor of rare ethical products, and presently, it has eight branches strategically located in the north (Abuja), east (Enugu), west (three branches in Lagos) and south (two branches in Port Harcourt) of Nigeria for ease of distribution to numerous customers,” he stated.

Citing companies like Novartis, Samsung, Dangote Group, Deyo Pharmacy and Pharmanews Limited as some of the companies that have positioned themselves to become trans-generational, Onyechi advised community pharmacists to sharpen their skills and knowledge by attending short-time certificate courses as approved by international bodies and government, adding that the role of the pharmacist has evolved from provision of drugs and information to patient care and that pharmacy as a profession has come a long way and must continue to advance.

In his remarks, Pharm. Deji Oshinoiki urged all community pharmacists in the zone to collectively tackle the challenges facing quality health care delivery in the country and ensure they gain back the trust which the public once reposed in them.

Speaking in the same vein, chairman of the occasion, Pharm. Olateju Olakiigbe, said he was delighted that pharmacists in the zone are benefiting what others were not benefiting, adding that the annual business is apt as it affords pharmacists in the zone opportunity to learn from the experiences shared by the personalities who come to the seminar every year.

“The theme of this year business seminar focuses on growth and succession and for me, it is germane because it answers two questions on how we grow our businesses and what happen to our businesses after our death. Many of us are already planning towards this, but we need to be tutored by the experts on how best to go about it, so I am happy that we are now wiser and better informed,” he said.

In her own address at the seminar, Pharm. (Mrs) Mfon Nsese Ufot, zonal coordinator, ACPN, IDEA Zone, explained that the theme for the seminar was very important to pharmacists who always wish that their businesses continue to thrive after their death, considering the rate at which so many businesses crumble after the demise of their owner.

“The annual seminar has become a platform where experienced and seasoned pharmacists are brought to impact members of the zone and the public with knowledge on current startegies and skills required for profitable operations in today’s environment that is becoming rougher by the day. We need not over-emphasize the fact that pharmacists in the zone, as well as the public have always been positively impacted by these semianrs, and this in turn culminates in a better health care delivery system for the general public,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, Pharm. Folashade Lawal who presented the address, “Satellite Pharmacy: Opportunities and Challenges”, disclosed that satellites pharmacy are not common in Nigeria, despite their significance in meeting the needs of certain sets of people.

Speaking further, the Victory Drugs boss reiterated that the roles of pharmacists in the modern world has evolved into full-time patient care, as they now perform roles which medical doctors often neglect.

“We now have a suitable place for discussing confidential information with our customers and patients; we maintain and improve professional performance; we manage patients’ medication therapy; and we comply with national professional obligations, guidelines and legislation, among others,” she said.

She also emphasised that more community pharmacists show interest in establishing outlets in rural areas, noting that provision of drugs and health care in underserved areas is crucial.

“The reason why we should we endeavour to be in the rural areas is that we are needed more there as all Nigerians, irrespective of where they are located have the right to be served by us and these people in the underserved areas are dying unjustly.”

Speaking further, she explained that unlike the urban areas, rural areas are full of opportunities for community pharmacists.

“The opportunities in the underserved areas for we community pharmacists are numerous, as we are going to have access to enough space to locate our pharmacy, easy access to goodwill from people of the community, minimal running cost, less competition, highly profitable and possibly easy access to loan interest,” she noted.

–        As expert enumerates reasons salespersons underachieve

On 11 April 2016, staff of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited gathered at the conference centre of D’Palms Hotel, Airport Road, Ikeja for a two-day workshop, tagged ‘Leading and Managing Maydon Pharmaceuticals Sales Team for Result.’

In attendance at the workshop, conducted by Pharmanews-White Tulip Consulting, were sales managers, regional managers and the national sales manager.

Speaking on ‘Sales Management,’ Pharm. Tunde Oyeniran, chief operating officer of Pharmanews-White Tulip Consulting, disclosed that quite a number of sales representatives don’t like admitting that they find the job challenging.

“It is something we all know. Even Google, the almighty search engine,  confirms that sales management is not fun. Otherwise how come we have zero matches any time we search for words like ‘I love being a sales manager ‘, ‘I like being a sales manager’, ‘I love sales management’ or ‘I want to be a sales manager?

“By contrast, search for the following topics and you’ll be surprised at the number of results: ‘I love Paris Hilton (25,400 matches), ‘I want to be rich’ (102,000 matches) and ‘I hate my boss’ (59,200 matches),” he observed.

The training expert praised the sales managers of Maydon Pharmaceuticals for setting a good example through their open-door policy towards their sales representatives.

“Being a sales manager is not about you anymore. The day you become a manager, it becomes about them. Your job is to walk around with a can of water in one hand and some fertilizer in the other. When the reps are not making the numbers, the responsibility for ensuring that every member of the sales team is successful and performing at optimum levels lies entirely with management,” he stressed.

Oyeniran further explained that when a salesperson is underachieving, sales managers certainly have reasons to be worried.

“Cases like this tend to throw up questions like: Are they visiting and talking to enough prospects? Are they talking to the right people within the organisations? Are they able to penetrate the formal DMU (Decision Making Unit) and get to the MAN?” he noted

The pharmacist-cum-trainer enumerated eight reasons why sales people fail. According to him, the first mistake sales managers make is picking the wrong person for the position though a wrong or no selection process.

“Two, it is possible the sales people had little or no training at all. Three, the representatives were probably expected to do all of their own planning. Again, there is this mistake of leaving them without competent supervision.”

Continuing, Oyeniran said, “Let us look away from the usual administrative error. We need to also find out if sales people are properly motivated to meet objectives. It is possible too that they are inadequately supported by a competent manager, not stimulated by appropriate incentives and not regularly appraised against a set of agreed objectives.”

As a lasting solution to ensuring pro-active attention from sales people in various regions, Oyeniran counselled that managers must continue to meet with each person on the sales team to gather some “emotional intelligence (EI).”

The trainer further suggested that sales managers should also go on sales calls with members of their team and with a view to constructively critiquing their sales pitch later.

Oyeniran also stressed the importance of being sensitive to the personal and professional needs of salespersons as this is the most effective way to motivate and get the best out of them.

“Treat the people below you like kings and queens because they are doing the hard work. Be the person they want to come to with questions and problems. Realize that a salesperson’s problem is your problem.

“Train your team constantly and review team goals regularly. Always maintain your personal integrity. As a manager, teach self-sufficiency, resourcefulness and be ready to take bullets for the team,” he urged.

Quoting the popular maxim of Socrates, the pharmacist said, “A group of donkeys led by a lion can certainly defeat a group of lions led by a donkey.”

Maydon is a forefront pharmaceutical company in Nigeria. Incorporated in 1994, its main operations started in June 2006 shortly after registering with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN). Since then, the company has continued to meet the health care needs of the people through its several NAFDAC-registered, commerce-and-industry-mediated and WHO-certified pharmaceutical products.

Currently, Maydon Pharma has over 74 registered products as well as over 40 staff across Nigeria.

Tamara is a 16-year-old student of Government Secondary School, Port Harcourt.  Quite frequently, he patronises D-Line Pharmacy & Stores on the same street as his family home.  All the members of his family are well known to Pharmacist Donald and the staff of the pharmacy.

To get some relief from a recurring headache, Tamara goes to the pharmacy to buy some painkillers.  Unfortunately, he does not have money on him at the time; so he takes the medication on credit with a promise to pay later.  He also collects a bottle of perfume and adds to his bill.

The following day, on his way back from school, Tamara stops at D-Line Pharmacy & Stores to pick up five more bottles of perfume.  He explains that they are required as Christmas gifts for his friends at school.  He is given the additional bottles of perfume on the condition that his entire bill will be settled by the end of the week.

Two weeks after, Tamara is yet to return to the pharmacy to pay his bill.  Incidentally, his mother comes to purchase anti-malaria drugs and is informed of her son’s outstanding debt.  Pharmacist Donald demands that Mama Tamara settle the bill for the unpaid painkillers and perfumes.  Mama Tamara refuses to pay, claiming that the sale of goods to her son is unenforceable because Tamara is still a minor.  In view of this, what is the legal consequence of the transaction?

As previously stated, a contract is an agreement which is binding at law.  However, even when all the ingredients of a valid contract are present, it may not be enforceable against certain categories of people like infants, lunatics, drunkards and the illiterate.  The general rule at common law was that contracts made by an infant were voidable at his option, i.e. not binding on the infant but binding on the other party.

The issues to be considered in this case are:

1. The meaning of infant.
2. The legal position of contracts made by infants.
3. The meaning of necessaries.

The position of contracts made by infants has been modified at common law by the Infants Relief Act of 1874 as follows:

(a) The Act specifically declares that three particular types of contracts with infants are absolutely void:

(1) contracts of loan, i.e., lending money to an infant;

(2) contracts for goods (other than necessary goods); and

(3) accounts stated.

(b)            Secondly, the Act stipulated that it would no longer be possible for an infant to ratify at majority, those contracts which were formerly not binding on an infant unless ratified by him after the attainment of majority.  In other words, if he now ratifies such contracts, such “ratification” has no legal effect.

The first issue to be determined is who is an infant?  The age of twenty-one has been fixed at common law as that at which absolute and unlimited legal capacity to contract shall commence.  Persons below that age are, therefore, infants for the purpose of contractual transactions.

In the case of Labinjoh v. Abake, a Nigerian adult sued to recover from the defendant, a Nigerian girl, the balance due to the plaintiff for the goods sold and delivered to the defendant.  On appeal to the Full Court, the court confirmed that the Infants Relief Act was a statute of general application in force in Lagos.  It therefore follows that, for matters governed by English law, the correct age of majority is twenty-one.

The second issue to be addressed is the legal consequence of contracts made by infants.  The summary of the Infants Relief Act of 1874 is as follows:

(a) All contracts of loan for non-necessary goods and accounts are absolutely void.

(b)            Contracts for necessary goods and beneficial contracts of service remain absolutely binding on the infant.

(c) Contracts which are binding on the infant, unless repudiated by him either during infancy or within a reasonable period after the attainment of majority, remain unchanged and unaffected by the Act.  These are contracts in which the infant acquires an interest in property, with continuing obligations, such as the purchase of land, leases, renting of an apartment, purchase of shares in a company, partnership agreements, etc.

(d)            Contracts which were not binding on an infant, unless ratified by him after the attainment of majority, were no longer ratifiable by him after majority.  In other words, such contracts become void.

In the matter of Tamara and D-Line Pharmacy, there was a purchase of painkillers and perfumes.  These two sets of items would be treated differently.  As it can be proven that the painkillers were necessary for use by the buyer (who was a minor); the perfumes, on the other hand, would be seen to be luxury goods.

Section 2 of the Sale of Goods Act provides that, “where necessaries are sold and delivered to an infant, or minor or to a person, who by reason of mental incapability or drunkenness is incompetent to contract, he must pay a reasonable price, thereof.” By this provision, Tamara would be liable to pay for the medication he bought, since those items were necessary.

The Sale of Goods Act defines necessary goods as “goods suitable to the condition in life of such an infant or minor or other person, and to his actual requirements at the time of sale and delivery.”  In the case of Chapple v. Cooper, Judge Alderson stated that “things necessary are those without which an individual cannot reasonably exist… thus, articles of mere luxury are always excluded, though luxurious articles of utility are in some cases allowed.”

In conclusion, the sale of painkillers to Tamara was a valid transaction for which he is liable.  However, the perfumes are luxury items, the sale of which would not be binding on Tamara, being that he is a minor (below the contractual age of twenty-one).

Principles and cases are from Sagay: Nigerian Law of Contract

“More objects are becoming embedded with sensors and gaining the ability to communicate. The resulting information networks promise to create new business models, improve business processes, and reduce costs and risks” Mckinsey – Internet of Things (2010)

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the networking of physical objects through the use of embedded sensors, actuators, and other devices that can collect or transmit information about the objects. Advances in wireless networking technology have made it possible to collect data from these sensors almost anywhere at any time. The information collected from these smart devices can then be analysed to optimise products, services, and operations.

In recent years, we see an increasing use of IoT in the pharmaceutical and health care industries. Pill-shaped microcameras – “chip in a pill”, a special ingestible pill – have been developed to traverse  the human digestive tract, capturing the health status, as well as drug effects on key organs, and transmit the data to a wearable device. This data is then sent as a report over cloud to health care personnel (HCP) for diagnosis. The information obtained can enable HCPs to prescribe personalised medicines that will improve drug efficacy considerably and reduce treatment period.

The Internet of Things is also applied in helping people keep track of their medications at home through smart devices used as personal medication assistant. An example is Amiko which aims to inform, alert and remind people with asthma (patient) to take the right dosage of medication and alerts them should the medication run low.

IoT is transforming the Healthcare industry. Use of smart devices in clinical development and supply chain has helped in many aspects such as manufacturing and supply chain management, higher R & D productivity, improved pharmacovigilance and regulatory compliance adherence.

Scope of application

•  Research and development

IoT applications such as “’Organ in a Chip” can drastically improve R&D productivity through rapid trials running multi-stage diagnostics as noted by Akash Shrivastava, a lead consultant with life sciences. During drug development and clinical trials, smart reporting and advance analytical tools will help generate vital diagnostics, enabling real-time reporting as there will be no need for continual feedback by subjects. This will reduce data reporting cost.

• Reduce time-to-market for new drugs

IoT application can enable pharma companies to plan better with faster decision making using real-time information obtained from smart systems integrated across the pharmaceutical value chain components. The insights acquired during drug research, efficacy, adoption, patient outcomes will be valuable to leadership and marketing teams especially during drug launch, drug pricing, and drug marketing and related strategy development.

• Regulatory compliance adherence

IoT application will enable real-time data reporting to central systems through the use of  smart devices. This will help improve pharmacovigilance and adverse effect rate can be minimised using the vital diagnostics collected from patients, thereby improving drug quality in terms of safety.

References:

• Shrivastava A. (2015) “NextGen Pharma takes smart strides with Internet of Things” Wipro Ltd, Doddakannelli, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore – 560 035, India. http://www.wipro.com/documents/nextgen-pharma-takes-smart-strides-with-internet-of-things.pdf

• Chui M., Löffler M., and Roberts R. (2010) “The Internet of Things”. McKinsey Quarterly.
• Christopher Colucci (2015) “Internet of Things in Pharma & Healthcare” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/internet-things-pharma-healthcare-industry-christopher-colucci.