The Nigerian Association of Community Pharmacists has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent signing of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act, 2022.
The body believes that this long-awaited bill will enhance the council’s regulatory framework and allow for better oversight of pharmaceutical operations and practices across the nation.
However, the organisation continues to advocate for the correct use of Nigeria’s national drug distribution guidelines in order to enhance the security of the nation’s supply of medications.
The recent signing of the amended pharmacy council of Nigeria act, 2022 has been received with approval in many quarters.
The law now expands the powers and functions of the Council to inspect, approve, licence and regulate the registration and practice of pharmacy across the country.
The national chairman of the association of community pharmacists, Adewale Oladigbolu said he believes that this development will contribute to Nigeria’s drive to regulate all stakeholders involved in the pharmacy distribution chain.
One of the major challenges of the Pharmaceutical Sector and the Health care delivery system in Nigeria, is the uncoordinated drug distribution system which is not in line with the good drug supply management that the National drug Policy stipulates.
Nigeria still battles largely with drug misuse and abuse, with more than six thousand five hundred registered members at the ACPN alongside several other agencies in drug regulation and control,
This indicates that this menace is far from over.
The task now is to ensure the proper implementation of the national drug distribution guidelines, which are expected to improve the order of the drug distribution system in order to provide the necessary checks and balances in the country’s chain and curb the current drug menace.
The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria was established in 1992.
President Buhari recently signed eight bills into law which included Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Counseling Practitioners Council of Nigeria, 2022, Civil Aviation Act and Meteorological Agency (Establishment) Act, 2022 among others.
