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The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos State Branch, has called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to immediately inaugurate the Governing Council of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), warning that the prolonged delay is undermining effective regulation of pharmacy practice in the country.
Chairman, PSN Lagos Branch, Olaitan Ogunlade, made the call while speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Pharmacy Week, describing the inauguration of the PCN Governing Council as critical to restoring full regulatory operations in the pharmaceutical sector.
Ogunlade said the healthcare sector depended on effective collaboration among various professions, stressing that each profession required a functional regulatory framework to protect patients and maintain professional and ethical standards.
According to him, the PCN has a broad statutory mandate covering the regulation and control of pharmacy education, training, practice and pharmaceutical businesses, as well as pharmacy technicians, patent and proprietary medicine vendors and other support cadres.
He identified practice, training and disciplinary matters as the three core mandates of the Council, noting that the PCN also undertakes accreditation of training institutions, inspection of pharmaceutical premises, enforcement of regulations and professional discipline.
Ogunlade argued that the specialised nature of pharmacy regulation required the Governing Council to comprise individuals with proven professional expertise, regulatory knowledge and ethical standing.
He therefore opposed proposals to introduce representatives of “community interest” into the PCN Governing Council, arguing that pharmacy regulation required specialised knowledge because of the sensitive nature of medicines and pharmaceutical practice.
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He said the Council should comprise experienced professionals drawn from the PSN, academia, Directors of Pharmaceutical Services, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the PCN Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), as well as representatives of pharmacy technicians.
The PSN Lagos chairman expressed concern over the consequences of the delay in inaugurating the Council, saying that “in the last three years,” accreditation of training facilities, disciplinary processes and other critical regulatory matters had suffered setbacks.
“We have been very patient even when we never solicited the amendment of the PCN Act 2022,” he said, insisting that the Council should be inaugurated under the existing law while any proposed amendment could be addressed subsequently.
“The PSN Lagos State, on behalf of pharmacists, calls on the Federal Ministry of Health to immediately inaugurate the PCN in alignment with the existing PCN Act,” Ogunlade stated.
He also announced reforms to the 2026 Pharmacy Week programme, saying the branch had retained participation by its technical and interest groups while introducing more continuing professional development activities and expanding opportunities for pharmaceutical companies to participate.
According to him, social activities, including a picnic and other engagements, were also incorporated to provide members with opportunities for relaxation and interaction.
Ogunlade urged pharmacists to participate fully in the activities and invited members to attend the 99th Annual National Conference of the PSN in Awka, Anambra State, saying the conference would provide another opportunity for professional engagement and growth.
