REGISTRAR’S APRIL 2022 UPDATE FROM THE REGISTRY

Dear Colleagues

REGISTRAR’S APRIL 2022 UPDATE FROM THE REGISTRY

On behalf of the management and staff of the PCN, I welcome you all to the month of April, 2022. As we enter the second quarter of this year, we intend to build on the modest successes of the first quarter. We thank you for the support received so far and we ask for your constant support and prayers even as we strive to exceed your high expectations of us.

I am pleased to inform colleagues that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has released the outcome of the assessment of Nigeria Regulatory System as having achieved the attainment of Maturity Level 3 (ML3). This result is the fallout of WHO re-benchmarking of the National Regulatory Authorities (PCN and NAFDAC) between 21^st to 25^th February, 2022. It is pertinent to state that this achievement is a reflection of the adoption of continuous processes improvement by the regulatory agencies as further evidenced by the earlier attainment of ISO 9001:2015 certification. Permit me to congratulate the PCN and NAFDAC Councils, management and staff for their commitment and support towards the WHO Global Benchmarking exercise. The Global Benchmarking Team of the two Agencies (PCN and NAFDAC) also deserves commendation for their resilience during the exercise.

This feat, comes with great benefits which include the recognition of the country’s capacity for the production of vaccines.

As mentioned in preceding newsletters and in line with enabling law, fines for late renewal for pharmacists and/or premises licences commences on April 1, 2022. Therefore renewal from now till December 31, 2022 attracts 50% fine of total renewal fee.

Candidates who were successful at the Pre-Registration Examination for Pharmacists (PEP) last year October 2021, and completed documentation for registration with PCN can check the PCN office in their state of residence for their 2022 licences.

Furthermore, stakeholders are hereby informed that PCN has opened the portal/website for Online Pharmacy registration. Therefore, Pharmacists who are interested in this area of practice can register their Online Pharmacy via www.pcn.gov.ng.

In the month of March 2022, a total of 510 fresh Pharmacy Graduates from Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State; Niger Delta University, Ammasoma Island, Bayelsa State; Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Ogun State; and Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State were inducted into the Pharmacy profession. Please join me in congratulating the new brand Pharmacists into our noble profession.

Advisory visit was paid to Capital City University, Kano, Kano State on March 12-24, 2022.

The First Cycle of PEP was held on March 19, 2022 at nine (9) centres across the country and 841 candidates sat for the examination. The result of the examination would be posted on the PCN website (ww.pcn.gov.ng) as soon as it is approved.

Furthermore, the First Cycle Foreign Pharmacists Graduate Orientation Programme (FPGOP) has been scheduled to hold from April 24 – June 4, 2022 at Kaduna State University, Kaduna (North) and University of Lagos, Lagos State (South). Prospective participants are hereby advised to visit the PCN State and Zonal Offices nationwide to apply for the programme and submit their documents accordingly. Registration for the programme closes on April 11, 2022. Please, note that late registration and submission of documents attracts 10% of the total fee.

In pursuit of its mandate to ensure good Pharmacy practice as well as quality service delivery by operators of pharmaceutical products and services providers, the National Enforcement Team of the PCN visited Rivers State in the month of March for a follow-up enforcement activity. During the exercise in the State, 43 Pharmacies and 135 Patent Medicine Shops were sealed for lack of compliance with PCN regulatory provisions in their practice and operations. However, 3 compliance directives were issued and 16 arrests were made for breaking of PCN seals. The arrested suspects are undergoing investigation for possible prosecution.

Similarly, the PCN in its vision to effectively regulate and control the training and practice of pharmaceutical service providers through the instrumentality of capacity building organised a Training of Trainers (ToT) in the month of March, 2022 on Mandatory Entry Point Trianing Programme (MEPTP) for Lecturers of Colleges of Health Technology in Kano and Gombe State. Furthermore, in collaboration with Jhpiego, PCN organised training for Community Pharmacists on HIV Self-Testing in FCT, Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Port-harcourt.

Also, in the desire of PCN to strengthen the National Health System through the participation of private pharmaceutical service providers, some key staff of PCN participated in a 5-day Second Stakeholders Meeting for the review of National Task Shifting/Task Sharing Policy, aimed at ensuring that the country has skilled workforce to offer service in rural and hard to reach areas.

In continuation of the implementation of the Agenda of New Partnership for Progress Initiative TWO PCN Directors participated as Panelist at the National Conference of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria in the month of March, 2022.  The participation of PCN shaped the deliberations and the communique of the Conference.

Finally, I want to appreciate all Pharmacists for their goodwork as we provide quality service to Nigerians in line with global best practices.

I therefore further urge all to remain ethical in practice and not relent in the discharge of your duties with due diligence.

Pharm. N. A. E. Mohammed, Ph.D, FPSN, FNIM, FPCPharm, FNAPharm

Registrar