COMMUNIQUE OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS OF NIGERIA (ACPN) HELD 6TH NOVEMBER 2014 AT DATTY HOTEL, UYO, AKWA-IBOM STATE

 

The National Executive Council meeting was held on 6'" November 2014 at Datty Hotel, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State. Twenty-Five States sent their representatives, which include their Chairmen and Secretaries. 

Council deliberated on a number of vital issues affecting the practice and made the following observation recommendations. 

 

1.  The National Executive Council (NEC) observed that Nigerians are not reaping dividend of the National Health Insurance Scheme due to poor implementation by the management of NHIS. Council implored the management of NHIS to adhere strictly to implementation of the law guiding the operation of NHIS and jettison the Global Capitation method being adopted, which is alien to the spirit of the law setting up NHIS

 

2. The preponderance of fake and counterfeit drugs has not reduced despite all efforts made by regulatory authority i.e. the National Agency Food & Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The National Executive Council (NEC) thereby advise the National Agency for Food & Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to revisit the closure of all drug markets where substandard and fake products are sold in Nigeria. The markets include Idumota and Mushin in Lagos State, Agbeni in Ibadan, Onitsha Head-bridge market in Onitsha, Anambra State,Ariaria market in Aba, Abia State and Sabongari market in Kano State.

 

3. The Concept of Retail Pharmacy Chain been promoted by the Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with the International Finance Corporation has been jettisoned by the National Executive Council through the resolution of various state branches of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN)due to the following reasons. 

 

 

i.   It encourages capital flight from the country through repatriation of their profit. 

ii.  It will reduce capacity utilization of the available pharmaceutical manufacturing companies through massive importation of pharmaceutical products that are produced locally. 

iii. Massive reduction of employed Nigerians in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector of the economy 

iv.  Closure of the registered pharmaceutical retail premises due to unhealthy Nigeria economy. 

v.   Loss of more than eighty thousand jobs (80,000) in the pharmaceutical retail sector of the Nigerian economy. 

vi.  Lack of professionalism due to unhealthy competitions and floating of laws that regulate pharmacy practice. 

vii. Pharmaceutical care which has been promoted by government worldwide no longer exist. 

 

4. The National Executive Council of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria observed with keen interest the security challenges in the Northern part of  the country and commensurate with our colleagues and other Nigerians that the insurgency may have affected. 

 

Signed

Pharm (Alh) Olufemi Ismail Adebayo, FPSN

National Chairman

Pharm Afuye Adeoye, Maw

National Sectretary