– As AHAPN Holds 24th Annual National Scientific Conference
The President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Prof. Cyril Usifoh and Executive Director, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Pharm. Uzoma Ezeoke, have harped on the need for pharmacists in hospitals and administrative positions to take advantage of technology in combating medicines insecurity in Nigeria, especially as it relates to the circulation of fake and substandard medicines for patients use.
They asserted that medicine security is a fundamental right of all citizens, thus as drug experts, pharmacists must ensure this right is protected, by latching onto innovative means of tracking and tracing manufacturers and distributors of counterfeit medicines, with the intention of reporting them to the appropriate agency for proper sanction to be given to them.
The duo and other stakeholders, gave the charge at the opening ceremony of the just concluded 24th Annual National Scientific Conference, of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN), held at the Welcome Centre Hotel, Lagos, from 21 to 25, August, 2023.
Prof. Usifoh, in his remarks highlighted some drug abuse practices, perpetrated by people across the country, such as boiling of meat with paracetamol to soften it, mixing of cake with marijuana, repackaging of expired drugs, among others, saying these and many others could lead to organ damage, if perpetrators are not arrested and sanctioned in good time.
In her keynote address, Pharm. Ezeoke, juxtaposed the gory state of fake and substandard medicines distribution system in the country with advanced technological pharmaceutical production obtainable in a few indigenous companies like Emzor, arguing that while the poor drug circulation challenge is no longer news, practitioners must acknowledge that change is springing up gradually with local manufacturers.
She noted that indigenous manufacturers need the support of government and practitioners to produce more genuine medicines for the populace, which will help rid the country of medicines insecurity.
The Emzor’s director also challenged pharmacists on the need for them to leverage technology in boosting their professional capacity whether in caring for patients or in compounding simple mixtures in their hospital for patients use.
“There is need to give preference to local pharmaceutical content, and be a bit more confident in them, by doing so, we are building our economy.
“Medicine security is fundamental right human rights of every citizen, but it is ridiculous how we have been living with it over the years. However, we need to wake up, we can’t continue to live in the danger zone forever, we need to change the narrative”, she charged.
In an interview with the National Chairman, AHAPN, Pharm. Olabode Ogunjemiyo, at the conference, he elucidated on how to mitigate the challenge, asking government to rise to the task.
He said “ One of the major reasons why we are having medicines insecurity is cost of the exchange rate; what we are saying here is that government should ensure that the exchange rate is normalized, because most of the ingredients in drugs production are imported and dollar-based. Government should agree to tackle that.
“Again, the issue of insecurity in the country is alarming government should address it urgently, to enhance the movement of medicines from one place to the other. More so, the deplorable conditions of our roads are making the transportation of medicines to the rural areas extremely difficult. Government would do us a lot of good by ensuring that the roads are in good shape.
“Most importantly, we have what is called the Universal Health Coverage. The National Health Insurance Act, actually, is meant to enroll all citizens to reduce out- of -pocket expenses, it is supposed to enroll at least 90 per cent of Nigerian populace. This will reduce out- of- pocket expenses and it will improve the health of the people, because they will have easy access to medicines”.
The Chairman, Conference Planning Committee, Pharm. Segun Onakoya, and Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Pharm (Dr) Modupe Oyawole, affirmed the aptness of the conference theme, especially in a time with lots of activities on APIs, use of digital platforms, improvement in supply chain while ensuring medication safety need. They urged pharmacists to up their games and ride on new innovations to attain medicine security for the country.
The 24th AHAPN Conference was well attended by dignitaries including, Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Kolawole Ilufemiloye Agbabiaka; Registrar, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Pharm.(Dr) Babashehu Ahmed, represented by Pharm. (Dr) Ukamaka Okafor; Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, National, Pharm (Dr) Adewale Oladigbolu; Chairman, Lagos PSN, Pharm. Olayemi Babayemi, among others.
