In this in-depth interview with Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis, Pharm. (Sir) Gilbert Umeadi Echezona, Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and former director of pharmaceutical services in Anambra State from 1997 to 2007, recalls several significant events in the growth of Pharmacy in Nigeria, as well as offering practical suggestions on advancing the profession and strengthening its umbrella association, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria. Excerpts:

Tell us a little about your background

My early life was shaped by my maternal uncle who was a teacher with the Catholic Mission. I started my early education in 1954 in Sobe, a town about 12 miles from Auchi in present day Edo State (Mid-West Nigeria). For my secondary education, I attended the famous College of Immaculate Conception, Enugu, from 1962 to 1966.

My educational pursuit was disrupted by the civil war (1967-1970). During the war, like most young men at the time, I joined the militia and,later, the Biafra Organisation of Freedom Fighters(BOFF) from 1968-1970. At the end of the war, I was offered admission to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), to read Pharmacy. I obtained bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy in 1975.

I started my pharmacy career as an intern pharmacist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu (1975-1976). I did my one year mandatory National Youth Service Corps programme in Yelwa Yauri, Sokoto State, from 1976 to 1977. In August 1977, I joined the Anambra State Civil Service as Pharmacist Grade 1. I also served Anambra State in various capacities, holding different positions and retired in 2007,after 30 years of meritorious service.

How would you describe your career in government?

Without exaggerating, my career in government was exciting and fulfilling. As a young pharmacist, I had a lot of exposure in the service, such as attending a store management course in Ghana for three weeks, and appointment as instructor and head of department at the College of Health Technology, Oji-River, an institution that trains middle-level manpower. I will tell you some other major posts I held in the course of our discussion.

Why did you decide to study Pharmacy?

At the end of my secondary education in 1966, I wanted to study Geology. However, my contact with a herbal ‘doctor’ in the course of military assignment during the civil war changed that. At UNN, where I attended, the introductory lectures in Pharmacognosy reassured me that I did not make a mistake. In the university, other students had high regard for pharmacy students.

Three months after graduation, as intern pharmacists, we were granted car loans for cars of our choice. The house officers received more money. We did not understand and were too excited to probe.

Did you eventually discover the reason?

Yes.The reason became clear when I finally took up a permanent appointment with the government. I discovered, to my utter disappointment, that pharmacists were discriminated against in the civil service. The conditions of service for pharmacists were very poor. Pharmacists were not included in policy-making committees in the hospital hierarchy. They were denied promotions and stagnated. Many of my contemporaries became disillusioned and left for the private sector. Those of us who were patient stayed and, by the grace of God, broke through the man-made bottlenecks and made it to the top.

Even in the private sector, it is the same story. Quacksand charlatans have taken over the profession. In spite of all these, I still believe I made the right choice. Today, a lot has changed. We now have pharmacists in top political positions as governors, ministers, legislators, ambassadors, commissioners, etc. I believe the future is still very bright for pharmacists and Pharmacy. I have nothing to regret.

 Tell us about your work experience

I worked first as a hospital pharmacist, then as an administrative pharmacist. As a Grade 1 pharmacist, I served under a senior pharmacist for three years before being postedto head a hospital pharmacy. In those days, one was not allowed to function unsupervised until one had had five years’ post qualification experience, the internship and NYSC periods inclusive.

What was the profession like in your day compared to today’s practice?

As at then, safe and good quality drugs were available in adequate quantities. The out-of-stock syndrome was non-existent. Patients received all the medicines in their prescriptions and at no cost to them.The drug distribution/supply chain was reliable and coordinated. Fake counterfeit medicines did not exist. There was paucity in the number of pharmacists employed to function in government hospitals, arising from discrimination in recruiting pharmacists. Consequently, non-pharmacists (pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants) were used to cover pharmaceutical duties in some hospitals.

Job satisfaction was equally lacking. Pharmacists in government served under poor work environment, poor remuneration package, not being included in decision-making committees in the hospital hierarchy, career stagnation, and limitation of professional privileges.

Tell us more about controversial issues that characterised your time

Discrimination against the profession was not limited to pharmacists in state service. It permeated the specialist and teaching hospitals and even the army. It was not until 1980 that the Federal Chief Pharmacist was upgraded to Director of Pharmaceutical Services, GL 16. My classmate who joined the Nigerian Air Force had to leave because he was started on GL 07.

During our time, pharmacists in government service were denied the right to private practice. We did not have the opportunity of coordinated continuing education programmes in Pharmacy,as is the case today.

Perhaps one can say some of the controversiesback then included poor working conditions for pharmacists in the public service; reluctance of most state governments, teaching and specialist hospitals to accept newly qualified pharmacists for internship training, leading to a great number of them roaming the streets for placement; and dominance of doctors as heads of hospitals at all levels.

Others included cheap substitution in hospitals for pharmacists using sub-professional health personnel; open drug markets and circulation of fake, counterfeit and substandard medicines; practising doctors keeping drug stores and dispensaries,in defiance of extant drug laws; and protest from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) against the appointment of a pharmacist as Minister of Health in 1993, the very first pharmacist to be so appointed.

There was also the proliferation of patent and proprietary medicine vendors in the cities and the complete lack of political will by government to curb the situation. Then came thepoisoned paracetamol syrup episode in which about 109 Nigerian children died. This dealt a devastating blow on the image of pharmacists.We had not fully recovered from the shock when the tragic death of Miss Cynthia Osokogu was reported,leading to the arrest of a young pharmacist, who is currently standing trial for murder.

In your opinion, what are the main challenges facing pharmacy practice in Nigeria and how can they be surmounted?

The pharmacy profession has a multitude of challenges to contend with. Many of the challenges have been there over the years. For instance, our laws in pharmacy practice are unwieldy and are not supportive of theprofession. There are manyoverlaps, leading to conflicts and faulty implementation. This problem can be overcome if the PSN is given the statutory function of formulation of policies and execution of laws governing the practice of Pharmacy.

Another challenge is absence of professional recognition. Pharmacists in government are engaged under poor conditions of service. The number employed is usually grossly inadequate,leading to cheap substitution with sub-professional health personnel to render pharmaceutical functions in hospitals. They are poorly remunerated and not promoted as and when due, leading to stagnation and frustration. Pharmacists in hospitals are not involved in decision making committees of the hospitals.

Pharmacy also has the issue of uncoordinated drug distribution and the menace of fake and counterfeit medicines. The flushing outof quacks and charlatans will help reduce the situation. Pharmacists should also be encouraged to move into rural areas. Government should develop the political will to implement the guidelines on drug distribution.

 Are there still some other burning issues?

Yes. There is the problem of fragmentation in the PSN. We should work hard to achieve internal consolidation in the PSN. There is a need for the PSN to be seen as one house, speaking with one voice. A situation where the position of a state branch on an issue conflicts with that of the national body on the same matter does not augur well for us.

Professional jealousy is yet another. The opposition that greeted both the appointment of a pharmacist as Minister of Health in 1993 and the creation of the Pharm. D. programmeare two clear cases. I have already talked about the professional jealousy, in respect of hospital pharmacists.

Another challenge is doctors’ strikes.Should the federal government be negotiating with the NMA, a non-labour body?This is one of the many occasions the government treats doctors as sacred cows. It is rather embarrassing.

 What solution would you proffer to these problems?

To tackle these challenges, the PSN must be seen as one house. Individual Pharmacists must be disciplined, and must develop both professional and political clout. We should avoid fighting back as response to provocation and conflicts, but rather adopt the more effective approach of dialogue and due process. We should understand and respect one another. Above all, more pharmacists should be encouraged to occupy positions of strength.

How would you rate Nigerian pharmacists?

We are not doing badly. You will recall that a pharmacist was appointed Minister of Health in 1993. Same year, Prof. O.K. Udeala was appointed Vice Chancellor,University of Nigeria, Nsukka.The late Prof. Dora Akunyili was D.G. of NAFDAC and later Minister of Information.

Pharmacists are today governors and deputy governors in their states. We also have pharmacists as ambassadors, commissioners, captains of industries and permanent secretaries. I recall that, in 1996, a Nigerian pharmacist represented the third world countries on the executive board of FIPfor community pharmacists. We are doing well. We still pray that more pharmacists occupy these positions of strength.

How best do you think the issue of fake drugs and counterfeit medicines can be curbed?

Many years back, we had a beautiful and reliable supply/distribution system for drugs. This system was destroyed in 1980 when government started issuing import licences to businessmen who are not pharmacists. This led to the involvement of quacks and charlatans in drug distribution, the development of open markets and the circulation of fake drugs.

To curb the circulation of fake and counterfeit drugs, we must evolve a new drug supply/distribution chain that will eliminate the involvement of quacks and charlatans in drug distribution and supply. The open drug markets must be dismantled. The federal government’s”guidelineson drug distribution” is the answer. Government should develop the political will to implement the guidelines.

I expected that, by now, various state governments should have set up StateDrug Distribution Centres (SDDC), as demanded by the guidelines. I also expect the PSN to take the lead in the implementation of the guidelines,as this is the only sure way pharmacists can reclaim the drug business in Nigeria.

The Anambra State PSN has registered a Mega Drug Distribution Centre (MDDC) in Onitsha. The centre is yet to take off because government lacks the political will to enforce compliance.

 What were your key involvements in pharmaceutical activities?

I was appointed State Director of Pharmaceutical Services(DPS) in1997 before I retired in 2007. This implies that, for close to a decade, I was monitoring pharmacists and the practice of Pharmacy. I was chairman of the Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee (PIC), member of National and State Executive Councils of PSN.

As DPS, I was also a member of the governing council of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) for two tenures, and served as a member of the Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee of the council. I served in the Enugu/Anambra Joint Task Force on Fake and Counterfeit Drugs,and was later appointed chairman of the Task Force in Anambra State. I regularly attended PSN meetings and conferences, both at national and state levels.

 Were there some major awards given to you in recognition of your selfless service?

Aside from my being made a Knight of the Roman Catholic Church in 1999, I was made a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria ten years later (2009). In appreciation of my valuable service as a member (1999-2002), the PCNhonoured me with a PCN Certificate. Same recognition was accorded me during the 2003-2006 and August 2006-November 2007 regime,in acknowledgement of my contribution to the PCN. I was also aPSN Anambra State Merit Award Winner in 1998.

I equally have in my possession a PANS Certificate of Honour (UNN 1974-75), in appreciation of my excellent service as a member and secretary of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students.

How do you see the annual PSN national conferences?

In the past, the national conference of the PSN was like a ritual. Every year we gathered and discussed matters affecting the profession. In some of the topics, we would fail to reach agreements,and where resolutions were reached, most of them were either partiallyimplemented or not implemented at all. The following year, the same topics would be presented again, and so on.

Today,a lot has changed. Most decisions are followed up. However, one feature of the AGM that has not changed is its rowdy nature, which is a reflection of the fragmentation within the PSN. It is also believed that the South has, for a long time, dominated the leadership of the Society. Efforts should be made at unification of interests, so that we can have a unified Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.

Is there an ideal age for a pharmacist to retire?

An active pharmacist should retire at 75 years. He needs some time to rest and reflect on his spiritual life.

 As an elder in the pharmacy profession, what is your advice to young pharmacists?

My advice is simple: Be disciplined, honest; work hard and remain focused. They should adapt to professional advances in clinical pharmacy and pharmaceutical care. I believe that the future of pharmacy lies in specialisation. We should therefore de-emphasise drug trading and emphasise drug consultancy.

Young pharmacists should make themselves relevant to the socio-economic welfare of any community in which they live. As I mentioned earlier, the future of Pharmacy and pharmacists is bright, but we must be committed to the course of Pharmacy.

In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, Pharm. (Mrs) Edith Uchenna   Nwachukwu, founder and managing director of Audion Pharmacy Nigeria Limited, shares some of her experiences from the early days as a struggling community pharmacist to the present day as an established entrepreneur. She also discusses her contributions towards ensuring that the challenge of fake and counterfeit medicines is overcome and what others should do to effectively tackle the menace. Excerpts:

 How long have you been in the practice and how did it all begin?

I have been in the practice for about 30 years now because I graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State in June 1984, and did my internship with the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, Abia State. I served in Kakuri General Hospital, Kaduna State. I came to Lagos after then and someone at the PSN got me a job to work with Galaxy Pharmaceuticals. What we were doing was mainly distribution, and that was how I came into the practice.

I had a driver and an office and we went to companies to distribute to them. We used to cover areas like Bariga, Mushin, Ikeja and Agege. By the way, Idumota was not really a big name then, so I worked with Galaxy for about four years and my salary then was 1000 naira – in fact, it was around 900 naira after deducting tax (laughs).

At a time, a relative of mine in the US asked me to help him sell some drugs in Nigeria and, in doing so, I think I made a profit of about 300 naira. So I started looking for a shop with the money, having discovered that I had the skills to be a good salesperson, and I eventually got one. Incidentally, my boss had been aware of all this[intention to go into community pharmacy] because, as a child of God, I could not hide such a thing from him. He stood by me through it all and even prayed with me inside the shop I rented.

After spending the entire 300 naira in getting the shop, there was no money left to stock it; so I had to go back to God for direction and He told me to go to people I was distributing to and ask them for assistance. And as God would have it, I met some of them, especially those in Bariga and Mushin. The likes of Sabiz, Omike and the rest were my people then; so one of them called Gabiz looked at me and said he was going to give me stocks on credit that I should pay him after selling in order to get more. So I got a stock of six hundred naira from him (laugh) and that was what I started with. In fact after buying the drugs, there was no money to transport the goods. He had to made another sacrifice by helping me to bring the goods in his own car to Mende in Maryland where I opened my first pharmacy. So, Audion Pharmacy Limited started in 1989, while it was incorporated in 1990, but with lots of hard work, coupled with the grace of God, this is where we are today.

 Based on your experience, how would you assess community pharmacy practice in Nigeria?

Pharmacy practice has come a long way because when I started, there were not many practising community pharmacy. There were people like Jaykay in the whole of Apapa and another one in Ikeja then. There was also Olusanya Pharmacy(though the man is late now) and Alpha Pharmacy who was just starting then. So I will say community practice has come a long way.

Many pharmacists in those days preferred to be in the industry because of the money and other benefits involved; but, to say the least, the practice has had its difficult time in the past, unlike nowadays that everybody wants to be in community practice. In those days, before setting up, you had to look for money to get a shop, register it, stock it and there was not much money in the country then and it was difficult getting a loan. So you have to struggle to raise the capital on your own.

 Tell us about some of your challenges and how you were able to surmount them

The first challenge in community pharmacy practice is that of human resource management and pilfering. It’s difficult getting a trustworthy and God-fearing staff nowadays as most of them are after money and when they discover that there is no way to steal, they leave. So, it is a big challenge for us, but God has been helping me.

Another major challenge has to do with transporting of goods from one place to another – unlike in the advanced world where you could source for your goods online and they could even be transported to your pharmacy.

However the main challenge is still that of staffing. Imagine when I came back from the last ACPN conference in Ilorin, four of my staff left on the same day without any prior notice and I was helpless to the extent that I had to be at the pharmacy throughout that period before I managed to get another set of staff.

 What is your view about the growing concern that newly graduating pharmacists are running away from community practice?

I have also noticed that in recent times. I think the young people of nowadays are after nothing than instant money and they are not ready to be patience about it. It’s like the inscription I read somewhere where somebody said, “God give me patience, but give it to me now.”

The challenge is impatience. Since they want to make money at all cost, they feel going into community practice may not satisfy their quest for making quick money. But community practice is not all about money-making; it’s about rendering service to humanity.

Another challenge is that of our pharmacy schools. The schools are no longer living up to expectations. Imagine a Pharmacy graduate that cannot face a patient. In fact, I take my time to correct some of them on many occasions here when I discover that the services they render are not up to expectation. But the saddest thing is that they have no patience to be trained.

Tell us about your relationship with the people of this community and the most common health conditions that bring them to your pharmacy.

I have been in this community in Ogba-Ijaiye since 1998, and I have never had a problem with any of the people. They love me and I also love them. In fact, I do to go to their homes to treat them while some of their old one soften come here sit and chat with me. Most times, they don’t leave until they discover that another set of people has arrived. In fact, there was a time May & Baker sponsored a free community typhoid vaccination programme here and they all came here to benefit from it.

Actually, the major people I deal with here are the elderly, those who get bored sitting alone and those who have nobody to talk to at home. And I take it as a duty to keep talking with them about their health and also pray with them.

The major health challenges that bring people to this place are hypertension and diabetes and the reason they come here is because they are assured of good pharmaceutical care and they feel they can talk to us. I am happy today that, at least, I’m a blessing to my community and, looking back, I am happy to be a pharmacist.

How active are you at ACPN-related activities?

I am very active at the level of the ACPN. At a time, I was made chairman, Pharmacists Day. Another time I was made a member of the planning committee for the national conference in Port Harcourt and Calabar. And, just recently, I was made chairman of the planning committee for the national conference in Ilorin.

I want others [community pharmacists] to know that if they are not there, there is no how they will know how it is being done. They should all get involved and add their quotas to the success of the profession.

How do you see the war on fake drugs and what strategy do you think can be adopted to effectively tackle the menace?

Pharmacy has come a long way and we are doing well, but it is unfortunate this war on fake drugs is proving difficult to be won because the people we are dealing with are people who want to make money by all means. But what baffles me is why we are finding it difficult to arrest those who are producing these substandard drugs. Are they not human beings and, so, can’t be arrested?

Imagine, these fake products come into the country on daily basis and pass through our borders and ports and yet we find it difficult to stop them despite the security measures in these places. What we need is total overhauling of our system. We also need to pray that God helps us.

Let me give you an example of what happen when I was at Maryland. A certain drug expired on my shelf and a boy came to my pharmacy to ask for the same drug. I told him it had expired, but he insisted that I should sell the drug to him at half price. I was amazed, but the Spirit of God told me he wanted to buy it and backdate it so he could resell it. So I went into my office, brought out a bucket of water and the products and started opening the products and pouring them into the water. That shows how bad it is in this country. I think until we all have change of mind and have the fear of God…We pharmacists should also maintain our stand and say no to stocking and selling of fake drugs.

Also, those who are non-pharmacists should also have the fear of God and accept Jesus as their Saviour (I love bringing gospel teaching into whatever I say).They should know that it is not safe to throw stones when they are in a glass house, because they can’t say who might be hit.

 What is your advice to young pharmacists who are willing to come into the practice?

They should understand that ‘Rome was not built in a day.’ They should be patient and ready to learn. I told you I started with 600 naira and God, in His infinite mercies, has taken us this far and I am very sure He will do much more. So they should be calm and ready to learn. Even the Bible talks about learning; so they should be ready to learn and apply what they have learnt.

Also, they should be prudent in their spending – not that they will be thinking about cars today, house tomorrow and all that. I am worried that with the way we are going in this profession, in the next few years, there may no serious-minded pharmacists again in this country if we don’t check what these young ones are doing. They must set goals for themselves and ensure they follow such goals.

In this exclusive interview with ADEBAYO OLADEJO, Pharm. Susan Olusola Ayetoro, chairperson of Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs) in Kwara State, discusses the activities of lady pharmacists in the state, while also calling for stiffer penalties for drug counterfeiters in the country. Excerpts:

Tell us a bit about yourself, including your academic background

I am Pharm (Mrs) Susan Olusola Ayetoro. I am a Merit Award Winner of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Kwara State Branch, and Fellow of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (FPCpharm).I am from Osun State. I got married to an Ondo State man. I had both my primary and secondary education in Ogbomoso and Ibadan (both in Oyo State), respectively. After that, I proceeded to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Ile-Ife, Osun State, to study Pharmacy.

I had my B.Pharm (Hons) in 1986, after which I did my internship (pupil pharmacist) at Trex Chemists, Ibadan, and my NYSC programme at Children Specialist Hospital, Ministry of Health, Ilorin, Kwara State.

 Since your election as ALPs chairperson in Kwara State, what changes have you brought to the association?

First, I will like to acknowledge the full support of the executives and members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Kwara State, for their consistent encouragement and backing. ALPs Kwara, as an interest group, has been doing its best to support PSN in all the state programmes and national conferences. There is enthusiasm and commitment of members to all ALPs programmes at the national and state levels. We are doing our best to assist the First Lady of Kwara State in her project, LEAH Charity Foundation and we go along with her anytime there is a campaign, the current one being the Cancer Awareness Programme for women in the state.

ALPs Kwara is a registered women’s group in the Ministry of Women Affairs and it also collaborates with other women professionals in the state. Most of our outreaches are usually covered by state electronic media and widely read in the local and national newspapers.

 Presently, what are the major challenges facing lady pharmacists in your state?

The major challenge we are facing as ALPs in the state is funding. Most of our activities are funded by members, as God grants us the grace to do them, and we get the full support of our men in PSN Kwara State. This notwithstanding, we are moving forward and not discouraged.

 In terms of membership participation, have you been getting the needed cooperation?

Membership participation is wonderful because they are always ready to come for programs and outreaches, no matter their age or status in their places of work. Our programmes are very interesting and our members are eager to make an impact in the lives of people positively. In view of this, we embark on so many programmes, such as school children deworming exercises, career talks for secondary school students, education of teenagers and youths on the implication of drug misuse and abuse, lectures on HIV/AIDS and donation of first aid boxes to secondary schools, just to mention a few.

We also collaborate with the Federation of Sickle Cell Clubs in the state, holding meetings with them and routinely donating drugs and Insecticide-treated mosquito nets. We also visit and make donations of drugs, food items and clothing to the children reception centre of the Ministry of Social Welfare, children with special needs and prison inmates.

 What would you say about the campaign against fake drugs in the country?

It is disheartening that most of the medicines counterfeited are those used for the treatment of life-threatening conditions and have high public health impact. These include antimalarial drugs, antibiotics, antihypertensive and antiretroviral drugs. Selling or distributing fake drugs is a health-related crime, which poses a great threat to public health and the economy of the nation; therefore, pharmacists should be involved in the campaign against it.

In Kwara State, the Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee of the PSN has been collaborating with the government’s taskforce on fake and counterfeit drugs. They do regular inspection of premises and refer serious cases to NAFDAC for necessary action. NAFDAC also does routine post-marketing surveillance and mops up substandard/fake or counterfeit medicines displayed.

However, innovation and the use of cutting-edge technology, in combination with regulatory measures, have improved detection of fake drugs. Such innovations include the Mobile Authentication Service (MAS), which is free, easy, simple, available anywhere there is a mobile network and places the power to detect counterfeit products in the hands of the consumers.

Additionally, public enlightenment, through the print and electronic media, has been sustained in the campaign against fake drugs. Pharmacovigilance has been helpful also.

 Many people have canvassed for stiffer penalties for drug counterfeiters. What’s your take on this?

It is a crime against humanity for anyone to knowingly procure and distribute fake or counterfeit drugs that can be detrimental to people’s health in the quest for profit making. In fact, the consequences of fake drugs also include loss of money on the part of the consumers because whatever money invested in buying fake drugs is a loss. Many pharmaceutical companies are also deprived of their profits, due to the unjust competition from counterfeiters, which may result in the collapse of some of the companies. In view of these, stiffer penalties should truly be meted out to drug counterfeiters.

 What are those things you hope to achieve before the end of your tenure as ALPs chairperson?

By the grace of God, some of the important projects I hope to embark on before the end of my tenure as chairperson include: Mass enlightenment on the pharmacy profession among secondary school students in Kwara State. The programme aims at educating the students more on what the pharmacy profession represents and its importance.

I also hope to increase membership participation in all our meetings and programmes.

 What is your advice to young pharmacists who are willing to come into the practice?

The young ones out there should know that our top priority in pharmacy profession is not money making, but saving lives. We, pharmacists, are men of honour and we tread that path always. So the thinking of adding value to people’s lives should be the most paramount in their minds. We also need to take the issue of fake drugs seriously. All hands must be on deck to tackle and curtail this menace of fake drugs in our society, at all cost.

In this interview with Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis, former PSN Chairman, Sir (Pharm.) Charles U. Obowu takes a cursory look at the dynamism of the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry, its impact on the health sector and how he became a distinguished civil servant. Excerpts:

Tell us about yourself, especially your early days

I attended St Patrick’s College, Calabar from 1947 to 1951 after my elementary education at Government School, Kumba, in Cameroun. I passed the Senior Cambridge School Certificate in grade I and the London matriculation exams in 1951. In 1953, I travelled overseas to study. I studied at Kings College, University of London and the School of Pharmacy, Sunderland.

 Tell us about your work experience

On my return to Nigeria in 1962, my first appointment was in the Ministry of Health as a manufacturing pharmacist, at the Federal Manufacturing Laboratory Yaba, under Mrs Nylander. Under the headship of Lady Nylander, my humble self, and Pharm. Sylvester Onwuka (later Dr Onwuka) set up the framework for the first indigenous manufacturing outfit in Lagos. Pfizer & Burroughs Wellcome had already started manufacturing in the country. We produced various tablets, intravenous drips, and chloroquine injections. These were supplied to government hospitals for use.

 In retrospect, can you confidently say studying Pharmacy was a good decision?

The pharmacy profession is very satisfying. There is power in the role of the pharmacist. I saw myself as being the pivot to the wellness of the nation. Without the pharmacist, medicines and drugs which are tools in the hands of the physician and other professional health workers would not be made or prepared safely. It was both challenging and fulfilling working in the manufacturing lab.

What about your subsequent engagements

On leaving government work, I joined the private sector. I was recruited by Kingsway Chemists Limited as trainee manager in Lagos. Later I was transferred to Benin as branch manager.

When the civil war broke out, I was moved to the Aba branch of Kingsway Chemists Limited. After the war, I joined Shell Petroleum Development Company as senior pharmacist in Shell Hospital, Port Harcourt.

Before my services to Shell came to an end, I was moved to the Department of Public Affairs where I became Head, Government and Public Affairs, from 1985 to 1987. (I will reveal the rationale for this movement later). I finally retired from Shell in 1987 and set up Uchem Pharmacy Limited in Port Harcourt. In 2013, I decided it was time to put down the mortar and pestle. It is my belief that for every activity in life there is a time for retirement from active engagement.

Going by your wealth of experience in Pharmacy, how many platforms were you privileged to use?

The platforms from which I operated as a pharmacist include: government, private sector, hospital (Shell) and community pharmacy practice. These platforms provided for me rich pathways to some more non-pharmaceutical engagements.

For example, in 1975, the Rivers State Government appointed me as Chairman, PABOD Supplies Limited. In 1976, I was appointed member of Justice Allagoa Commission of Inquiry into Rivers State-owned companies, boards and parastatals. I did these jobs alongside my work at Shell Hospital.

Reports have it that you were in Gen. Muhammed Buhari’s cabinet. How true is this?

Yes, it is true. In 1983, I was invited to join Rivers State cabinet after the Buhari military coup. Shortly after that, I served as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry. Later, I was moved to the ministry of Information, Welfare, Tourism, Sports and Arts and Culture as commissioner.

In all, I served as commissioner in Rivers State from 1983 to 1985.

Is that all?

No. I had two other engagements with the Rivers State Government. Between 1994 and 1998, I was appointed Chairman of the Governing Council of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori. This was at the height of the Ogoni crisis. It is on record that I was the first Chairman of Council that completed the four-year tenure. Others before me (four of them) were removed before the end of their tenures.

The return of civilian rule in 1999 saw the beginning of the existence of the free medical service programme in Rivers State. I was the first chairman of that body from 1999 to 2004. The last three appointments were challenging, exciting and rewarding in terms of inputs and execution. They, in no small measure, fulfilled my yearning to do something to improve the education and health indices of our beloved country.

How active were you in PSN-related activities?

I served as PSN chairman in Rivers State on two occasions (1981-1984; 1988-1992). I was instrumental to the formation and inauguration of the Rivers State branch of the Association of Community Pharmacists (ACPN) in 1987, of which I was the first chairman (1987-1994). I was a member of NEC (1992-1994). I received the Fellowship award of the PSN in 1994. I was conferred with the knighthood of the order of St Christopher in 1995.

What was the profession like in your day compared to today’s practice?

The volume of medicaments produced today for treatment of ailments has been tremendous. This has changed the face of pharmacy practice. Hospital pharmacy has changed from dispensing and compounding to providing medicines to patients in a safe effective way. Hospital practice has become patient-oriented. This has given rise to clinical pharmacy as a specialisation. The emphasis now is on pharmaceutical care in pharmacy profession.

When I was in Shell Hospital, doctors, pharmacists and nurses took part in ward rounds. Retail pharmacy is now community-oriented; accordingly, the Association of Community Practice Pharmacy (ACPN) has become a technical group.

Manufacturing companies have increased more than ten-fold in the country. Academic pharmacy has more than quadrupled. Many universities now have faculties of Pharmacy. Consequently, the annual output of pharmacists has grown in leaps and bounds. Thus the content of Pharmacy and quantity of pharmacists has increased tremendously. But it is arguable whether this explosion translates to higher ethics and devotion to Pharmacy by the new breed of pharmacists.

What are the challenges facing pharmacy practice in Nigeria and how can they be surmounted?

Pharmacy nowadays has been so commercialised that standards have taken a dip. Today, the counterfeiting of drugs and the evils of “Register and Go” by the new breeds have become a thorn in the flesh.

How best do you think the issue of fake drugs and counterfeit medicine can be curbed?

One of the greatest challenges facing pharmacy practice in Nigeria is the issue of fake and counterfeit drugs. Counterfeiting of drugs is lethal, causing the death of many people.

Faking in general is global, leading to losses for authentic drug manufacturers. Counterfeiters have a worldwide network. To counter this evil, regulatory agencies must be involved, namely NAFDAC and SON (Standards Organisation of Nigeria), as well as customs and the consumers themselves. Consumers are also stakeholders and must work hand-in-hand with the regulators.

One of the duties of the regulators is to raise the awareness level of the consumers. The policy framework of the regulators should be constantly revised. There should be appropriate deterrent for offenders. Judges and anti-counterfeit agents should be strengthened. Culprits should be given speedy trials in our law courts. Those involved in arrest, investigation and prosecution should do their work honestly, and without delay.

What is your view about the annual PSN conferences?

PSN national conferences are good. They present opportunities to meet old colleagues. They provide for people in the same profession to deliberate and analyse issues of common interest.

I have enjoyed past conferences, although I must apologise for not attending one for some time now.

Over the years, is there any PSN president who left a lasting impression on you?

Past PSN presidents have been good. They represent young men who are anxious and ready to give leadership and their time in order to make the profession first among equals. There is no reason why the current PSN president should do less.

Of the past PSN presidents, I would rank Prof. Ogunlana high, especially as I was member of NEC during his tenure. He is a man of clarity and I think he is nimble and precise in thought, word and deed.

If you were not to be a pharmacist, what other profession would you have opted for?

Any other profession is the answer. As you might have deduced, my training and education fits me into any profession or duty but Pharmacy is my number one.

What advice do you have for young pharmacists?

In my day you were not allowed to practise until you had worked for at least three years after qualification under a qualified pharmacist. Nowadays it is not so. Young pharmacists are advised to be patient and learn the “trade” as the lives of innocent souls are at stake.

In this exclusive interview, Pharm. Bridget Okocha, chief executive officer, Mebik Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Limited and zonal coordinator, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Surulere and Coker Aguda Zone, Lagos, recounts some of her experiences over the years, noting the numerous attractions, as well as challenges in the profession. She also has valuable advice for young pharmacists willing to embrace community practice. Excerpts:

How would you assess community pharmacy practice, especially in your zone?

There are several challenges and, to be sincere, we are not breaking even because of the activities of charlatans. The regulators are not helping us, either. Take, for instance, a civilised environment like Lagos. I don’t see why they [the regulators] should still allow the activities of charlatans to continue to thrive to the extent that people no longer know the difference between fake and genuine medicines. Charlatans have gained enough power all over the country, to the extent that their activity is hindering the attainment of good pharmacy practice.

Personally, my major challenge is human resource management. People keep asking me how I cope with managing my staff, especially in the aspect of loss of goods through theft or breakage, which we called ‘shrinkage’. It is so bad that if you are not the hardworking type, you could close up business because of the level of shrinkage.

Also, there are issues of staff not living up to expectations, not representing you well before your clients, not practising what you taught them, coming late to work, not utilising working hours properly and many more. Considering these, you will discover that if care is not taken, the owner of the business will be at the losing end. That is a major challenge we are facing and it is not possible for a pharmacist to be on ground all the time to monitor them.

Ironically, the challenge is not only applicable to the non-pharmacists staff that we employ. These days, even the pharmacists that we employ hardly deliver. Get some fresh graduates from the university and interview them. You will find out that most of them do not even know the dosage of paracetamol. What they are looking for is to learn from you and thereafter leave you in search of bigger pay elsewhere.

What I do to tackle the challenge is proper monitoring of my staff. They all have my phone numbers and we communicate all the time. Even though this is not too good because the ideal thing is to allow them the independence to practice. But I have come to realise that nobody can do your thing the way you want it done.

 So, how lucrative is community pharmacy practice?

Community pharmacy is very lucrative because the chances of making it in the business are very high, as long as you understand the business and have a passion for it. I do tell people that before one can become successful in a particular profession, being passionate about it is very important.

For me, community pharmacy practice is beyond buying and selling like market people.It requires commitment, passion and dedication. A lot of people have advised me to come into importation business but I tell them that my joy lies in talking directly with my clients, making them happy and solving their problems; and when they come back to say ‘thank you’, it makes me happier.

 What are the commonest health conditions that bring patients to your pharmacy?

The commonest one is malaria, followed by infection, and I will attribute them to the challenge of non-conducive environment.

We need a lot of orientation and awareness to promote good health and proper hygiene in this country. In the case of malaria, we thank God it is reducing and the reduction is as a result of the introduction of Artesunate Combination Therapy (ACT) compliant drugs, which are becoming more common now. But we are not there yet, as the disease is still a burden in the country.

Also about infection, it is common in both children and adults because we don’t take care of our environment. If you see where some people live, you will feel sorry for them and this has nothing to do with whether they are rich or poor. It’s about their orientation towards creating a healthy, conducive environment.

 If you were not a community pharmacist what other aspect of the profession would you have chosen and why?

If I was not a community pharmacist, I would have gone into teaching. The reason is that I love teaching and despite the fact that I am into community practice, I still do a lot of mentoring and teaching for the youths. I believe that if I am able to mentor somebody and the person comes back to appreciate me, it is still the same with what I am doing presently at the community practice level.

What is your advice to young pharmacists who are willing to come into the practice?

My advice to them is that they should ensure they have a passion for the practice before venturing into it, and they should be well prepared to face all the challenges that come with it.

However, the most important thing is that they should build their reputation around the practice. In whatever they want to do in life, integrity is very important and they should also place value on themselves, so that people around them will believe in them and respect them, whether they are rich or poor.

I am using this opportunity to tell them that there are lots of opportunities in community practice, as long as they are ready to do the right thing and not like quacks, thinking that the fastest way to make money is to cut corners. They should not get involved in whatever will put them in trouble, and they should uphold the motto of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), which says “As Men of Honour, We Join Hands.”