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By Doris Obinna
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has warned the Federal Government and National Assembly against weakening the governing structure of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), saying any dilution of professional expertise could undermine drug regulation, patient safety and public health.
The Society made the position known in a memorandum to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Assembly on the proposed composition of the PCN Governing Council.
Signed by its National President, Ayuba Tanko, the PSN urged the authorities to ensure that the Council remains professionally driven, technically competent and representative of the major segments of the pharmacy sector.
The Society said the PCN’s statutory responsibilities span pharmacy practice, education and professional discipline, requiring a governing body with adequate expertise in regulation, inspection, accreditation, enforcement and professional standards.
It warned that a reduced or poorly balanced council could compromise the PCN’s capacity to inspect pharmaceutical premises, accredit training institutions, regulate pharmacy education and practice, enforce standards across the pharmaceutical value chain and discipline erring professionals.
The PSN called for broader representation of pharmacists and critical stakeholders, including the PSN, Directors of Pharmaceutical Services, accredited Faculties and Colleges of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Technicians, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA).
It also demanded an additional PSN slot for its President, citing the Society’s membership of more than 50,000 pharmacists nationwide.
The Society raised concerns over the proposed six public representatives, warning that excessive public representation could dilute technical expertise and politicise professional regulation.
While supporting public participation, it urged government to impose minimum competence requirements in public health, law, finance and consumer protection.
The PSN also demanded structured academic representation, proposing that one representative of accredited Faculties and Colleges of Pharmacy be nominated through the Committee of Deans of Pharmacy in Nigeria on a rotational basis.
It said academic input was essential because universities provide foundational pharmacy training while the PCN regulates and accredits pharmacy education.
Acknowledging government’s cost-rationalisation drive, the Society cautioned against sacrificing regulatory effectiveness for a leaner structure.
“Weakening regulatory architecture may increase long-term healthcare costs, increase counterfeit medicine risks, undermine medicine supply chain integrity and reduce enforcement capacity,” it said.
The PSN stressed that professional regulation is a public safety infrastructure, not merely an administrative overhead.
It urged the Federal Government and National Assembly to adopt a balanced, technically sound and professionally competent PCN governing structure, stressing that regulatory reforms must strengthen public protection rather than compromise it.
