Registrar, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. Babashehu Ahmed, says with the signing into law of the Pharmacy Bill, the agency will seize to be called Pharmacists Council of Nigeria but Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.
Ahmed who disclosed this to pharmanewsonline in an exclusive interview, said although many expected the Council to swing into action with the signing of the bill, but there are procedures the bill must follow to become substantive Act.
“I am pleased to inform the general public that the new Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act has been gazetted as Extraordinary Gazette No. 157 of 30 August, 2022, Vol. 109 Government Notice No. 108. With this development, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria is now officially Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.
“All pharmacists should view themselves as ambassadors of the Pharmacy profession. We should endeavour to uphold the standards of Pharmacy, ensure compliance with laid down regulatory frameworks, and remain diligent, ethical and resilient in delivering good pharmaceutical services to the populace”, he stated.
The registrar, who was appointed on 7 April at a Special Meeting of the PCN Governing Council, expressed his profound gratitude for the overwhelming confidence reposed in him, as he assured the pharmacy community of taking the profession to greater heights.
He also pledged his allegiance to the profession, assuring pharmacists that his administration will leave no stone unturned in ensuring full implementation of the law, moreso that the law has provided for clear sanctions in case of breach of its provisions.
Ahmed explained other processes the agency took the bill through before its enactment as an Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Indeed the bill was signed into law and we all celebrated it, but what everybody expected was for us to go to the field with the bill but there are processes that need to be followed. We must first of all engage with the Federal Government, swiftly production can now follow, deposition to the Supreme Court and registered with the Court of Appeal. Having met all these processes, we are at the point of formally informing the public”, he said.
Speaking on the regulation of sales of drugs online, he said the Council has signed a partnership with Interpol for the implementation of “Online Pharmacy Regulations 2021”.
He added that there is no aspect of online pharmacy that is excluded from the law, as the regulation covers the aspect of registration and licensing; inspection, monitoring and enforcement; operation of online pharmacy and other general provisions.
According to him “The PCN has developed a regulation with titled “Online Pharmacy Regulations 2021”. This regulation is officially cited as “Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette, Government Notice No. 135”.
“The regulation covers the aspect of registration and licensing; inspection, monitoring and enforcement; operation of online pharmacy and other general provisions.
“The PCN has established a platform of collaboration with Interpol to ensure adequate enforcement of the various provisions. This platform is going to provide strong cybersecurity to drive the operation of the regulation”
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