PCN threatens sanction against erring pharmacists and health care providers

pharmacy

…As UNN inducts 121 pharmacy graduands.

Irked by the high rate of unprofessionalism among health care providers, especially pharmacists in the country, the registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. NAE Mohammed, has threatened that the council would withdraw the professional licence of any member tarnishing the image of the pharmacy profession in the country.

Mohammed stated this at the induction and oath-taking ceremony of the 2013/2014, graduates of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, which was held at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium Hall, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, last December.

Pharm. Mohammed, who was a guest of honour at the event, disclosed that some members of the council, through their unethical acts, were bringing the profession to disrepute, saying the council was putting measures in place to ensure that, before 2016, registration of members would commence online to monitor every pharmacist in the country.

“It is because of the mad rush for money that fake drugs have been on a daily increase, claiming many innocent lives and making it impossible for certain illnesses to be cured. Join the pharmacy profession today; ensure you abide by the ethics of the profession by respecting the do’s and don’ts of the profession. Also, your first mission should be to save lives, and in the course of saving lives, money will get into your hands,” he said.

In his keynote address, titled, “Networking: A tool for Digital Wealth Creation”, Pharm. Clifford Emenike, chief executive officer, Eagles Vision Investment Concept, explained networking as a process or practice of building up and maintaining informal relationship, especially with people whose friendship could bring advantages, like job and business opportunities to one. He further explained that networking is a tool for health creation, advising that the graduands should be prepared to be consummate team players, in order for them to create digital wealth that would last for generations.

Speaking in the same vein, Prof. Emmanuel Chinedu Ibezim, dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, UNN, said the theme of the induction, “Networking as a Tool for Digital Wealth Creation”, was aptly chosen to capture the global heartbeat of the moment, adding that there were lots of veritable resources flying around, accessible only to those who were well informed. He therefore advised the graduands to translate the laudable feat, they had achieved, to their future life endeavours.

While urging the staff and students of the faculty to contribute their quotas to ensuring a successful re-accreditation of the faculty in 2015, the university don disclosed that pharmacy profession was currently going through a period of positive transformation by trying to key into its proper place in the health sector.

The highpoint of the event was the award presentation to the 2013/2014 best graduating student, Miss Ibeanu Nkiru Ozioma, who graduated with 21 distinctions. Prizes she won include the PSN-Enugu Award for Best Graduating Student, and cash prizes from Nemel Pharmaceuticals Company Limited, Enugu; O’NELL Pharmaceuticals and Health Care Limited, Lagos; and Impact Pharmaceuticals Limited, Enugu.

Speaking with an emotion-laden voice, Ibeanu Nkiru recalled that life was not pleasant throughout her five years as an undergraduate, but her determination and perseverance help her surmount all challenges and graduate in flying colours.

“It has been a journey of difficulties, many ups and downs, successes and failures; but I am grateful that the journey which started about five years ago has finally reached its pinnacle today. I cannot but acknowledge the role of our dean, Prof. Chinedu Ibezim, in shaping and molding us all through the years.”

Other dignitaries at the event include, Pharm. (Sir) Jasper K. C. Onyeka, FPSN, MD/CEO, Impact Pharmaceuticals; Prof. A.A. Attama, chairman, Induction Ceremony Planning Committee; Pharm. Prof. S.I. Ofoefule, head, Pharmaceutical Technology; Pharm. Prof. K.C. Ofokansi, head, Department of Pharmaceutics; Pharm. Prof. Stella Inya-Agha; Prof. Vincent Okorie, former Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, UNN; Pharm. Dr T.C. Okoye; and many other dignitaries.