Posted on: Tue 25-06-2024

Following the recent circular Ref: FDS/ 791/ 1/ 10 directing all CMDs/MDs of FHIs to implement the consultant Pharmacist cadre, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, has called for an urgent interventions by the Chief Medical Directors (CMDs)/Medical Directors (MDs) to invoke the waiver clause provided in recruitment of staff to replace those who have left the service to appoint Pharmacist consultants pending the establishment of vacancies solicited from the office of the Head of the civil service of the Federation.

In a letter addressed to the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, (FMOH) the PSN also clamoured that the FMOH through the office of PS convey a tripartite consultative meeting of representatives of the PSN, NUAHP/ JOHESU and the committee of CMDs/MDs of FHIs to jointly strategise and resolve all grey areas in the quest for the full implementation of the consultant Pharmacist cadre in Nigeria.

The letter signed by the President of the PSN, Prof Cyril Osifoh further encouraged the Permanent Secretary and all the structures of the FMOH to enhance the prospects and potentials of the entire value chain of the workforce in the Health sector.

“We assure you of our willingness to remain invaluable partners who add value to the team concept as we re-engineer the Health system in Nigeria.

The letter entitled: “Perfecting the implementation modes of the consultant Pharmacist cadre in our Health system”,We remain very grateful to your office for recent circulars to the CMDs /MDs of the FHIs directing them to commence full implementation of the consultant Pharmacist cadre in view of the enabling circulars which back same.

“In 2020 and 2021, official circulars were issued from the office of the Head of civil service of the Federation (OHCSF) and the Federal Ministry of Health through a past permanent secretary Mr Abdulaziz Mashi  who was perceived as one of the most seasoned bureaucrats of his generation to actualise the consultant cadre in Pharmacy practice in Nigeria.

“Despite this landmark development which has birthed the consultant cadre in states like Niger (it started in 2013), Edo, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti, Bayelsa and others, we are still stuttering at the Federal level.

 “The setbacks in the totality of the implementation of the consultant Pharmacist cadre after the 2020 and 2021 approved circulars were issued were inspired by the unfortunate style of the immediate past Health Minister Dr Osagie Enahire who actually gave directives to the CMDs/ MDs not to comply with those establishment circulars tacitly.

 “It is imperative to convey our gratitude to the contemporary leadership of the FMOH which generated a fresh momentum on this subject matter with new circulars compelling the CMDs/MDs of the FHIs.

“At a recent consultation of the CMDs/MDs of the FHIs,  we are well briefed that there is a paradigm shift to do the needful which is apparently a step in the right direction. It is also noteworthy to put on record that a few of the Chief Executive of the FHIs have actually taken bold steps to appoint some eligible Pharmacists as consultants who are appropriately designated in their institutions.  We at PSN seriously commend this seeming drift towards progress which will impact on the Health system.”

Further, Osifoh draw the attention of the FMOH to the obvious principles of task shifting in climes like, Canada, UK, Australia where inefficiency less productivity and delayed waiting times to access care by physicians have compelled a need to empower Pharmacists with more responsibilities within the limits and scope of their professional calling.

“It is therefore important that the Federal Government must leverage on this same principle to bring about resourcefulness, fruitfulness and greater impact in the totality of the care process in our Health system.

Following our continuous assessment, monitoring and critical evaluation of developments pertaining to the implementation mode of the consultant Pharmacist cadre in Nigeria, we have observed that there are challenges in two major areas which are:-

A non- uniformity in the proposed approach for the implementation of the Pharmacist – consultant cadre in the FHIs.

Some Chief Executives of the FHIs are still hinging their non – compliance with circulars of the FMOH on the delays in releasing vacancies for Pharmacist – consultants by the approved establishment template which is the office of the Head of civil service of the Federation.”

SOURCE: VANGUARD NEWSPAPER

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