Update from the Registry – June 01, 2021

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the management and staff of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, I warmly welcome you into the month of June, 2021. In spite of the challenging economic times we find ourselves in, I want to commend players in the Pharmaceutical industry for rising up to the occasion in bridging the gap in supply of healthcare commodities. I also want to seize this opportunity to remind us all that we are not yet out of the woods especially with the upsurge in COVID 19 cases in countries like India, Brazil and Turkey. As we approach the end of the second quarter of the year, we encourage pharmacists to be more committed to the task at hand and to raise the bar of practice by providing better quality service to Nigerian citizenry.

In the month of May 2021, the PCN paid an Advisory Visit to the proposed Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Abia State University (ABSU). The visit took place between May 27 & 28, 2021. Findings from the visit indicated that plans have reached advanced stage for the establishment of a new Faculty of Pharmacy by the state University. Council remains committed to its advocacy for increased number of Pharmacy Faculties across the length and breadth of this country. This drive will help bridge the expanding Pharmaceutical manpower gap in Nigeria.

In furtherance of PCN’s continuous efforts to ensure a good, safe and sanitized pharmaceutical environment, the National Enforcement Team visited Enugu State in the month of May, 2021. During the exercise, a total of 391 illegal premises were sealed, comprising of 90 Pharmacies and 301 Patent Medicine Shops for lack of compliance with PCN regulatory provisions in their practice and operation. In addition, 6 compliance directives were issued to others for poor hygiene and other related breaches.

I am pleased to report that the Council of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists at the 32^nd/33^rd Annual General Meeting & Scientific Symposium held recently in Accra, Ghana appointed the Registrar of PCN, Pharm N.A.E Mohammed, PhD, FPSN, as Chairman, Drug Advisory Council.

Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) in collaboration with the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) (Nigeria Chapter) kick-started Sensitization Workshop on the implementation of the Pharmacist Consultant cadre on May 18, 2021. The Workshop took place at the Banquet Hall, NAF Conference Centre and Suites, Ahmadu Bello Way, Kado, Abuja. The Workshop was well attended and the Opening Ceremony was chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) who was ably represented by Dr. Abubakar Adamu-Ismae’el, Director, Permanent Secretary’s Office. The Executive Secretary of Health, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) was represented by the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, FCTA. The Workshop was quite successful and was graced by the PSN President ably represented by the Deputy President (North) and sister professional regulatory Council in health and professional associations. The Communique of the workshops would be published after the last scheduled program in June 2021.

The PCN would like to encourage all Pharmacists especially those in the public sector to rise up to the challenge of delivering exceptional pharmaceutical care to the teeming Nigerian public. This would further reposition the Pharmacists as value adding members of the healthcare team.

Furthermore, a two-day Capacity-building program was organized by the PQM+ USP for PCN Quality Management Team between May 19 and 20, 2021. The goal is to achieve the institutionalization of ISO 9001:2015 in the Registry activities.

Finally, I wish all Players in the Pharmaceutical industry, a very productive month ahead.

Thank you.

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

Registrar