THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF HEALTH INAUGURATES THE NEWLY RECONSTITUTED GOVERNING COUNCIL OF PHARMACISTS COUNCIL OF NIGERIA UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF PROF. AHMED TIJJANI MORA (Wakilin Maganin Zazzau)

The Honourable Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire inaugurated the Governing Council of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) on Monday, June 15, 2020 following its reconstitution by His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The newly reconstituted Governing Council is chaired by Prof. Ahmed T. Mora (Wakilin Maganin Zazzau).

In his speech at the inauguration, the Honourable Minister explained that while the Federal Ministry of Health exercises supervisory role over the PCN, the Governing Council is to provide guidance and direction for the efficient discharge of the functions of the PCN as provided for in its enabling Act. The Honourable Minister charged the Governing Council to ensure that it aligns the PCN functions with the vision of Mr President as spelt out in the 2nd edition of the National Strategic Health Development Plan 2018 – 2020.

While acknowledging the role of the PCN in the healthcare system, the Honourable Minister urged the Governing Council to focus attention on standard of training, code and ethics of practice, proliferation of illegal premises and drug abuse among others, adding that the Council should refocus the profession to meet up with current realities and development strategies for efficient utilization of local resources for local production of pharmaceutical raw materials.

The Honourable Minister acknowledged the daunting challenges facing the Governing Council and charged the Council under the Chairmanship of Prof. Ahmed T. Mora to work together in harmony in the interest of the pharmacy profession and the country at large.

The 72-member Governing Council is made up of the Chairman, 37 Directors of Pharmaceutical Services in State Ministries of Health and the FCT, 22 Deans of accredited Faculties of Pharmacy, the President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), 8 Representatives of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Director-General of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Representative of the Armed Forces, and Director of Food and Drug Services (FDS) of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH).

In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Ahmed Tijjani Mora mni (Wakilin Maganin Zazzau) acknowledged the immense contribution made by the past Governing Councils in the regulation and control of pharmacy education and practice from 1992 to date. He thanked Mr President for reconstituting the PCN Governing Council with the responsibility of giving policy direction to the profession at this challenging times, and promised that the Council will rise up to the occasion.