The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has said it will no longer accept cash payments of any form, including capitation and building levy. The apex pharmaceutical body in Nigeria passed this resolution, among others, at the end of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) which took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during its 94th Annual National Conference.
In a communique made available o Pharmanewsonline, the Society stated that “From the first of January, 2022, all payments including capitation and building levy shall be paid via accredited electronic channels. Manual payment will no longer be acceptable to facilitate date aggregation and ease of conference registration”.
The document further read, “For non-payment of capitation as and when due, conference agreed that defaulters shall be made to 100% in default, while all states are mandated to set up political and legislative action committees in their states with a mandate to report to council about their progress, every 6 months”.
The communique also stated that “the decoration and insignia utilized by state, technical and interest groups should be different from that used by Fellows of the PSN to ensure that a clear distinction is seen and noted”.
It would be recalled that the 94th Annual National Conference of the PSN which took place at the Alfred Diete Spiff Civic Centre, in Port Harcourt, witnessed one of the largest assemblage of pharmacists from all over Nigeria and beyond. Themed “COVID-19 Lesson: Broadening and Strengthening the Nigerian Pharmaceutical and Health Sector, the conference had some of the finest brains in the Nigerian health sector in attendance.
Keynote Speaker and DG of NAFDAC, Professor Moji Adeyeye, discussed the unsavory reality that has become of the health sector in Nigeria. She bemoaned the disruption of the socio-economic well-being of the public by the pandemic and how it has made it very difficult for patients to access quality healthcare.
She also lamented how the absence of vaccines and other effective pharmaceutical interventions had slowed down the fight against the disease, in its early days. In spite of the challenges posed by COVID-19, she noted that the pandemic has heralded exciting opportunities that spur the creation of strategies and the development of viable tools necessary for effective and rapid response to current challenges, while also providing sustainable solutions to future challenges in the pharmaceutical sector.
Other dignitaries who attended the 5-day event included Mr Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, CFR chairman, opening ceremony; His Majesty, Dandeson Douglas Jaja JP, Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom and Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, as special guest of honour; Pharm. (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa, immediate past President, PSN; Professor Maurice Iwu, Bioresources Development and Conservation Programme; Dr Teresa Pounds, NAPPSA president and Dr Obi Adigwe, DG of NIPRD.
The 95th edition of the conference comes up in Jos, the Plateaus State capital, in November, 2022.
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