Pharm. Taofik Odukoya, a leading Nigerian pharmacist and founder of Vanguard Pharmacy—a prominent chain of retail pharmacies with 11 branches nationwide—has called on the Federal Government to address critical challenges affecting community pharmacies. These include escalating drug costs, the menace of counterfeit medicines, and the increasing burden of chronic disease management.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the 97th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Odukoya highlighted the pressing need for government intervention to ensure the sustainability of community pharmacies and enhance healthcare delivery across the country.
The Vanguard Pharmacy founder identified the rising cost of healthcare, particularly medications, as a significant barrier to accessing essential treatments for many Nigerians, especially those from low-income backgrounds. He urged the Federal Government to implement affordable pricing policies and provide support to local pharmacies to ensure equitable access to essential medicines.
“We need the government to facilitate the creation of a more cost-effective healthcare system. Only through strategic intervention can we ensure that essential medicines are affordable for everyone,” Odukoya stated.
Odukoya also bemoaned the proliferation of counterfeit drugs, which jeopardise patient safety and erode trust in the pharmacy profession. He called on the government to bolster regulatory frameworks and enforcement mechanisms to curb the circulation of fake medicines in Nigeria.
“The issue of counterfeit drugs is rampant and remains a major safety concern. We need more robust laws and better enforcement to protect Nigerians from the dangers of fake medicines,” he noted.
Odukoya disclosed that, to combat this issue, Vanguard Pharmacy has taken proactive measures, such as sourcing directly from authorised distributors and employing drug verification processes. Odukoya, however, stressed that systemic change requires greater government involvement, including the creation of a national database and improved drug traceability systems.
“At Vanguard, we’re committed to the fight against counterfeit drugs. Ensuring patient safety is central to our mission,” he affirmed.
Odukoya further addressed the increasing burden of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular conditions on Nigeria’s healthcare system. While community pharmacies, including Vanguard, play a vital role in managing these conditions through services like Medication Therapy Management (MTM) and Disease Management Programmes (DMPs), he emphasised the need for government intervention to scale these efforts.
“Chronic diseases are on the rise, and while community pharmacies can offer critical care, the government must take a leading role in expanding these services and ensuring that all Nigerians have access to them,” Odukoya stated.
He also highlighted the importance of addressing the root causes of chronic diseases through public health campaigns focused on prevention, education, and early detection.
Odukoya equally pointed out other challenges, including limited access to financing, a shortage of skilled workers, and regulatory hurdles, all of which impede the growth and effectiveness of community pharmacies.
“We need more government support to boost funding and create an environment that allows pharmacies to thrive,” he urged. He also called for reforms to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to ensure better coverage for community pharmacy services.
“There is a need for reforms to ensure that community pharmacy services are better covered under NHIS,” he argued, stressing that such changes would significantly improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria, particularly in underserved and rural areas.
Reiterating the vital role of community pharmacies in Nigeria’s healthcare system, Odukoya called on the government to actively support these pharmacies in delivering essential services. He emphasised that with adequate support, community pharmacies could drive transformative change in the country’s healthcare sector.
“The government must play a more active role in supporting community pharmacies to ensure they can deliver essential healthcare services,” he said.
