Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigerian

 

Communique' of the 34th Annual National Conference of The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeira (ACPN)" Sunshine 2015" Health Between 31st May to 5th June 2015, At JOJEIN Hotel & Resorts, Airport Road, Oba -Ile, Akure Ondo State

 

The theme of the conference was "EXPLORING NEW FRONTIERS IN COMMUNITY PHARMACY PRACTICE". 

 

The conference was declared open by His Excellency, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko,. CON, the Executive Governor of Ondo State. The Chairman of the occasion was Dr. Joseph Odumodu, FPSN, MFR, the Director General, Standard Organization of Nigeria ably represented by the President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, FPSN, FPCPharm, FNAPharm, FNIM. Other dignitaries that attended the conference include; the first lady of Ondo State; Her Excellency Mrs. Olukemi Mimiko, Chief of staff to Ondo State Government, Dr. Kola Ademujimi, Ondo State Head of Service Mr. Toyin Akinkotu Esq, Commissioner for Health, Ondo State, Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharm. Azubike Okwor, FPSN, FPCPharm, FNAPharm, FNIM, FFIp, the Representative of the Registrar; Pharmacists COuncil of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. Ahmed Babashehu, the Regent of Akureland, His Royal Majesty, Pharm. 

Adetutu Adesida, Pharm.· Deji OSinoiki, FPSN, other healthcare professionals and eminent Nigerians. 

 

The Keynote Address was delivered by Pharm. (Sir). Anthony Akhimien, FPSN, FPCPharm, FNAPharm, , Managing Director, Teo Pharmacy Limited. The following Eminent Resource Persons presented papers during the plenary sessions as Subtheme Speaker, Pharm. (Mrs.) Folasade lawai, MAW, Pharm. (Dr.) Emmanuel Ayika and Dr. Adebodun Sanyaolu - (a Veterinary Doctor). 

 

Conference deliberated on the theme and subthemes of the conference and other contemporary issues in Community Pharmacy Practice and the general state of the nation and made the following observations and recommendations. 

 

(1) Conference acknowledged the need by the Society to make use of the skills and competencies of the ecimmunity Pharmacists in the management of clinical diseases states. Conference enjoined Community Pharmacists to play increasing roles in chronic disease management, immunization and medication therapy management. These services should inculcate accountability, diagnostic screening to assist in improving therapeutic outcomes and lowering overall healthcare cost. 

 

(2) Conference reiterated the need for practitioners to brace up and adopt global best practices. Participants therefore called for ethical re-orientation and maintenance of professional standard among members. It agreed that the professional role of Pharmacists . in the COmmunity setting is evolving and changing from the traditional dispensing and distributive role to best practices in patient oriented care services, involving pharmaceutical care models, medication therapy management and effective patient education to achieve good therapeutic outcomes. 

 

(3) Conference deliberated extensively on the Chaotic Drug Distribution System in the country and therefore called on the Federal Government to put all machinery in place towards implementation of the new NATIONAL DRUG DISTRIBUTION GUIDELINES after inculcating the finest tenets of rules of engagement with all the relevant stakeholders including those in industry, distributors, wholesalers and retailers to afford all stakeholders an opportunity to marshal a common agenda in the ultimate professional and public interest. 

 

(4) Conference equally deliberated extensively on the concept of Retail Pharmacy Chain being promoted by the Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with the International Finance Corporation and unanimously resolved to jettisons the concept for the following reasons. 

 

I) It encourages capital flight from the country through repatriation of their profit

ii) It reduces capacity utilization of the available pharmaceutical manufacturing companies through massive importation of pharmaceutical products that are producedlcically 

iii) Massive reduction of employed Nigerians on the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector of the economy 

iv) Closure of most of the registered pharmaceutical retail premises due to unhealthy competition Lack of professionalism due to unhealthy competitions and flouting of laws that regulate pharmacy practice. 

vi) Pharmaceutical care, which has been promoted by the government worldwide would no longer exist. 

 

Conference advised foreign investors in Retails Pharmacy to partner with the existing indigerious pharmaceutical retail chain premises in, accordance with the existing laws that regulate the practice of retail pharmacy. 

 

 

(5) Conference declared empathically that only Pharmacists should own and operate retal pharmacies in line with the relevant pharmacy and drug laws, regulation and guidelines especially, PCN 2005 regulation 79 and 81, the poison and pharmacy Act PPA and the National Drug Distribution Guidelines. Retail pharmacy is a professional practice and the window of pharmacy profession anywhere in the world. 

 

 (6) Conference lamented the wretched output of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) which has achieved only a miserly 5% coverage. which is also limited to the Formal Sector Conference advised the Federal Government through the credible Buhari Prudential Machinery to review the resources committed to National Health Insurance Scheme against the background of a woeful performance. Conference admonished the Federal Government to embrace new building blocks in the NHIS which will embrace ONLY lawful payment mechanisms, restrict capitation to primary care centres and shift the orientation of the scheme to a private sector driven project rather than public sector like we have at the moment. 

 

7.  Conference appreciated efforts made by the Registrar and the Governing Council of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) in re-positioning the activities of the Council to meet global standard. Conference implored the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) to step up her monitoring and control activities in order to drastically reduce quackery and other unethical practices by the practitioners. Conference emphasized the need by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria to reform pharmacy education in all its ramifications to meet global standard. 

 

8.  Conference observed drastic increase in numbers of substandard; fake, unregistered and counterfeit pharmaceutical products in the country and urged the National Agency for Food, Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to step up their regulatory activities respect of monitoring and closure of open drug markets where those products are easily available. 

 

9.  Recognizing the critical role that the Community Pharmacists and other trained healthcare professional play in the management of pneumonia and diarrhea in children under 5 years Conference resolved to adopt the new WHO/UNICEF guidelines for the management of childhood pneumonia and diarrhea diseases which recommend the use of Amoxicillin Dispersible tablet as first line treatment for childhood pneumonia and co-packed Zinc/Low osmolarity oral Rehydration Salt Solution (Zn.ORS) for the management of childhold diarrhea respectively. In the light of the above, conference therefore urged the Government of Nigeria, at Federal, State and Local levels to fulfil their commitment to ensuring the budgetary provision is made for the procurement and wide distribution of these 2 life saving medicines up to the rural and peri-urban communities. 

 

10. Conference reviewed the escalating insecurity in the country with special emphasis on the Boko Haram Insurgence and the spate of bombings, kidnappings, abductions and wantondestruction of innocent lives and properties. It called on Federal Government to empowersecurity agencies to put in more effort towards bringing lasting peace and ensuring security of lives and property in the Country. 

 

11. Conference appreciated the government and the good people of Ondo State for their care and hospitality. Conference commended the ABIYE programme and Community Pharmacists Empowerment by the Ondo State Government. 

 

(12) At the end of the 34'" Annual General Meeting (AGM), the following National Officers were elected to serve the Association for the next one year. 

 

1. Pharm. Albert Kelong Alkali, FPCPharm - National Chairman   

2. Pharm. Samuel O. Adekola    -    National Vice Chairman   

3. Pharm. AfuyeAdeoye Emmanuel, MAW    - National Secretary   

4. Pharm. LawrenceOsarentin Ekhator    - National Assistant Secretary   

5. Pharm. Gafar 'Lanre Madehin    -   National Treasurer   

6. Pharm. (Rev.) Daniel Femi Ajayi     - National Financial Secretary   

7. Pharm. Agnellus Chima Ogbu    -    National Publicity Secretary   

8. Pharm. (Alh)Olufemi Ismail Adebayo, FPSN  - Immediate Past National Chairmar   

 

Signed

Pharm(Alh)AdebaYO' FPSN .   

National Chairman  

 

Pharm. Afuye Adeoye E. MAW   

National secretary