Pharm. Jonah Okotie is a seasoned community pharmacist with over 25 years of hands-on practice at the grassroots of healthcare delivery. As managing director of Engraced Pharmacy, Alimosho, Lagos, and a former secretary and public relations officer of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Lagos State, he has been deeply involved in professional advocacy, regulatory matters, and patient-centred care. In this exclusive interview with Adebayo Oladejo, Okotie reflects on his leadership journey, the realities of community pharmacy practice in densely populated Lagos communities, regulatory gaps, and why inclusive healthcare governance is critical to improving treatment outcomes in Nigeria. Excerpts:
Can you briefly take us through your leadership journey as it relates to community pharmacy practice? If you were to summarise it, how many years have you practised?
I have practised pharmacy for over 25 years, with the bulk of that time spent in community pharmacy. Along the way, I have served in several leadership roles within ACPN, Lagos State, including as secretary and public relations officer.
My leadership journey began at the grassroots, directly engaging with fellow pharmacists, regulators, and patients. Community pharmacy places you at the frontline of healthcare. Leadership in this space is not just about holding office; it involves advocacy, organiing fellow practitioners, documenting processes, and ensuring that the voices of community pharmacists are heard at the state and national levels. These experiences have shaped how I approach service and professionalism today.
What is your assessment of the current state of community pharmacy practice in Lagos, especially in high-density areas like Ejigbo, Ikotun, Dopemu, Egbeda, and similar areas?
Community pharmacy in high-density Lagos communities faces unique challenges. These areas have heavy population pressure, limited healthcare infrastructure, and economic constraints.
Pharmacists are often the most accessible healthcare providers in these neighbourhoods, but they contend with intense patient demand, regulatory requirements, and competition from unregulated medicine vendors. Despite this, community pharmacies remain critical touchpoints for healthcare delivery, providing essential medicines, patient counselling, and frontline health education.
Access to safe and affordable medicines remains a challenge. What obstacles do community pharmacies face at the grassroots?
Safe and affordable medicine access is a dual challenge—for both patients and pharmacists. Many patients cannot afford standard treatments, even for common illnesses such as malaria or hypertension.
For pharmacists, supply chain constraints, rising costs, and regulatory bottlenecks limit the variety and availability of medicines. Weak social support structures and limited health insurance coverage exacerbate the problem. These challenges hinder the ability of community pharmacies to provide reliable care consistently.
Awareness, professional care, and the patronage of charlatans continue to be issues. How does this affect practice?
Low awareness and the widespread patronage of unqualified medicine vendors undermine professional care. Many patients prioritise cost over quality, turning to quacks and alternative practitioners. This exposes them to unsafe treatments and erodes trust in legitimate healthcare providers.
Community pharmacists are trained to provide safe, evidence-based care, but when quackery thrives, patients suffer. This creates a constant uphill battle to educate the public and encourage responsible health-seeking behaviour.
How do justice system gaps and counterfeiting affect community pharmacy practice?
The justice system is crucial in medicine regulation. Judges, police officers, and enforcement agents need a strong understanding of drug laws and the responsibilities of healthcare professionals.
Unfortunately, harassment and intimidation of compliant pharmacists by some police officers continue. Such actions discourage professionalism and can drive practitioners away from community practice. For the health system to function effectively, law enforcement must be consistent, informed, and fair. Counterfeiters exploit weak enforcement because penalties are often minor or delayed. This makes counterfeiting a high-reward, low-risk venture, threatening public health.
What are the regulatory gaps and enforcement challenges facing pharmacists today?
Regulation must balance patient safety with the realities of practice. Currently, enforcement sometimes targets compliant practitioners while counterfeiters operate with relative impunity.
Regulators must be adequately empowered with personnel, resources, and intelligence-led systems to cover urban and rural areas effectively. When enforcement harasses ethical pharmacists, it discourages compliance and undermines collaboration between regulators and professionals.
How supportive are current federal and Lagos State government policies to community pharmacy practice, and where is there room for improvement?
Policies exist, but implementation remains weak. Governments must go beyond issuing statements and ensure tangible improvements in access, affordability, and patient safety.
Community pharmacists often lack recognition and adequate support. Policy initiatives should include training opportunities, capacity building, and structured engagement with frontline providers. Government must prioritize the practical realities of healthcare delivery and ensure professional inclusion in decision-making.
Professional hierarchies and workplace equity remain sensitive issues. What is your take?
Healthcare is a team effort. Excluding or undervaluing any cadre, be it pharmacists, nurses, or allied health professionals, disrupts patient care. Mutual respect and equity are essential for collaboration, better treatment outcomes, and patient trust.
How do you see technology shaping the future of community pharmacy?
Technology is transforming pharmacy practice, from digital record-keeping and prescription verification to AI-assisted drug interaction checks and patient education tools. While AI and apps can improve efficiency, they must complement professional training and ethical standards. Technology alone cannot replace the critical judgment and personalised care that pharmacists provide. Practitioners must continuously upskill to leverage technology effectively.
How can Nigeria unlock the full potential of community pharmacy?
Unlocking community pharmacy’s potential starts with recognition, appreciation, and inclusion. Pharmacists must be fully involved in healthcare policy, medicine management, and patient safety programs.
Bridging professional gaps, promoting collaboration, and respecting the roles of all healthcare professionals will strengthen the health system, improve patient outcomes, and enhance public trust.
You have raised concerns about the composition of government health task forces. What is the issue?
The Ministry of Health recently established a task force on clinical governance, but it is largely composed of doctors, with only one pharmacist present by virtue of office.
Pharmacists are central to medication management. Their exclusion limits the task force’s effectiveness and undermines the goal of improving treatment outcomes.
Drug administration and its effects occur across multiple levels of care. Any oversight body must reflect this reality, including representation from pharmacists, other healthcare professionals, and patient groups. Exclusion compromises effectiveness and patient safety.
What is your final call to government?
The government must reconstitute these committees urgently, including relevant professionals and patient representatives. Sincere, immediate action is required to ensure effective oversight, improve healthcare outcomes, and restore confidence in the system.
