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By Henry Uche
Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has called for the speedy implementation of the national prescription policy project, which the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) is undertaking.
This was contained in a letter titled “A national prescription policy for Nigeria,” addressed to the Minister of State for Health, Mr. Tunji Alausa. The letter, jointly signed by its ACPN’s national chairman, Adewale Oladigbolu, and national secretary, Ashore Omokhafe, also urged the Federal Ministry of Health to appoint a pharmaceutical consultant.
The association explained that, the pharmaceutical consultant must be a registered pharmacist and a medical consultant who must be a licenced medical practitioner within the purview of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act 2022 and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Act, if the goals of the national prescription policy must be achieved.
They hope that vital areas like the categorization of drugs, which is already being factored into this assignment, would be driven by international best practices.
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“We strongly urge you to continue to walk on the path of progress the FMoH has embarked on with regard to the NPP project.
“ACPN will join other progressively minded stakeholders to collaborate with the FMoH as we look forward to the speedy conclusion of this national assignment in about three months’ time. The current law regarding prescribing medicines in Nigeria states that ONLY a trained medical doctor, dentist or veterinary doctor may prescribe medicines.
“Likewise, such prescriptions can ONLY be dispensed by a registered pharmacist from a registered premise. Unfortunately, the reality of prescribing and dispensing medicines in Nigeria is such that both licensed healthcare professionals and charlatans are prescribing and dispensing medicines, sometimes with dire consequences.
“It is globally accepted that drug use constitutes a significant aspect of health care and that the handling of drugs in all its ramifications, particularly the production, distribution, prescription and dispensing of drugs could have a positive or negative impact on the health care delivery system and the health of the population. This explains why countries are expected to pay due emphasis on drug use in their respective countries.
“It is hoped that the relevant players will synergize their efforts with a view to evolving a working national prescription policy in the public interest as currently championed by the National Prescription Policy Committee of the FMoH,” they added.
