A prominent Nigerian pharmacist and business development expert, Pharm. Remi Adeseun, has asserted that the global healthcare landscape is rapidly evolving, with technological advancements and sociodemographic changes driving the shift towards community-based care.
Adeseun, who is the global director at Salient Advisory, a digital health consulting firm, said this while delivering his keynote address on the topic “Advancing Community Pharmacy Practice Through Innovation and Collaboration.” during the opening ceremony of the 43rd Annual International Conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to Adeseun, technology is a game-changer for enhancing the functionality of community pharmacies, improving access to medicines, and facilitating clinical decision support, inventory management systems, online pharmacies, and payment solutions.
He identified five key trends impacting healthcare delivery globally in 2024: a focus on holistic, patient-centred care; technological transformation; concerns over cost and affordability; shortfalls in the health workforce; and equity in healthcare.
The eminent pharmacist elaborated on how digital health innovations are making community-based care more patient-centred and effective. He noted that the adoption of artificial intelligence in pharmacy practice enables more precise medication management and adherence monitoring, ensuring that patients receive the right treatment at the right time.
“In some countries, such as France and the UK, pharmacists play a crucial role in primary healthcare by providing advice and initiating or modifying treatment for certain chronic conditions without the need for a physician’s involvement,” Adeseun said.
“This reduces physician workloads and addresses shortages in the healthcare workforce. In Nigeria and South Africa, task-sharing and shifting policies empower pharmacists to manage essential health services, such as contraceptive administration.”
Adeseun also discussed the rise of e-pharmacies, mentioning that established brick-and-mortar pharmacies like HealthPlus and MedPlus are adding online channels to better serve customers who seek convenience and privacy.
“The regulatory aspect of this shift is also evolving, with companies like Remedia Health and Drugstock, which are run by pharmacists with deep IT expertise, leading the charge in digitized distribution,” he added. “Our ACPN chairman has also been working diligently to develop many of these systems.”
According to Adeseun, the low pharmacy-to-population ratio in Nigeria, coupled with the need for equity in healthcare, underscores the importance of innovation and collaboration in community pharmacy practice. He emphasized the need for better collaboration with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors and patent-proprietary medicine vendors, to improve access to quality medicines for Nigerians.
“There are functional delineations that allow PPMVs to serve patients effectively, and pharmacists can enhance these services by providing professional guidance,” he said. “We should think of collaboration in this context.”
He further noted that in advanced countries, it is rare for a doctor to both prescribe and dispense medication, saying the collaboration between healthcare providers is so strong that doctors often have arrangements with community pharmacies to fulfil their prescriptions.
He however called for a reciprocal approach from community pharmacists, urging them to respect the roles of other healthcare professionals. “When other professionals acknowledge our role, we should respect their boundaries and avoid overstepping into areas beyond our training,” he said.
“If this is institutionalized through clear policies and laws, we can achieve a better collaborative approach for value-based care.”
Adeseun also highlighted examples from the UK and Canada, where pharmacists support doctors and nurses in managing chronic conditions through follow-up consultations and medication schemes. In France, pharmacists are even setting up teleconsulting cabins to provide patients with easy access to specialists.
