PHARMACUTICAL SOCIETY OF NIGERIA

COMMUNIQUE OF THE 86TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (PSN) TAGGED "HARMONY 2013" HELD AT THE KWARA STATE GOVERNMENT BANQUET HALL, ILORIN, KWARA STATE FROM 4TH TO 8TH NOVEMBER, 2013

The theme of the conference was

"EVOLVING BEST PRACTICES IN PATIENT CARE"

The conference was declared open by HIS EXCELLENCY ALHAJI ABDULFATAH AHMED, the Executive Governor of Kwara State.

 

Other dignitaries at the opening ceremony included: Hon. Justice Musmpha. Akanbi. CFR (RTD),the former President, Court of Appeal and former Chairman,independent Corrupt Practices and other Related offences Commission (ICPC) who served as Chairman of the Opening Ceremony of the Conference; the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari(MFR), the  Minster of health, Prof C. O. Onyebuchi Chukwu ably represented by the Director of National Drug Policy of the Federal Ministry of Health, Pharm J.A. Ugwu,  FPSN; Pharm (Prince) Julius Adelusi, FPSN, FPCPharm, mni, OFR former Health Minister, Pharm, Mary Okpeseyi, Director of food and Drug Services, Federal Ministry of Health; Director-General of National Agency for food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC Dr. Paul Nigeria (PCN) and a full compliment of the staff of the registry of PCN led by the AG. Registra , Pharm. Gloria Abumere, FPSN; Past Persidents of Pharmaceutical Society including Dr Philip Emafo, OFR, FPSN, Dr. U.N.O.Uwaga, FPSN,FNIM,min, Sir Anthong Akhimien, FPSN and pharm. Azubike Okwor,FPSN,FPCPharm,FFIP.

The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Fola Toyo,MFR, FPSN,FPCPharm, Pro-Chancellor, Caleb University and former President, West African Post Graduate of Pharmacists. Other Eminent resource persons at the conference were Pharm. (Dr) Dan Anuebunwa both clinical from the USA and as array of other resource persons from different sectors of the Nigerian economy 

Conference deliberated on the theme and sub-themes of the Conference and other contemporary issues influencing healthcare and national development and made the following observations and recommendations

1. Conference posited that good practices in patient care include amongst others, adequate proximity to health care facilities, adequate information and awareness, eradication and/or prevention of preventable diseases, employment and use of motivated work force, availability of standard and affordable drugs. Conference called on government at levels to sustain these objectives towards best practical in patient care

2. Conference noted with regret the handicaps which militate against good practice good patient care and called on pharmacists to strive to collapse the walls of these obstacles through adopting good pharmacy practice, procurement of dispensing and other relevant software’s which will promote robust patient care robust patient care and drug management. Conference evaluated other infringements against competences of pharmacists and solicited the embracement of manpower development to change or modify the attitudes of pharmacists towards their chosen profession. Conference further noted fundamental defects in the curriculum of training which is deficient in inculcating good attitude and skills for high performance in the light o modern day priorities in patient care and Medication Therapy Management (MTM), to set a plan of training that will make pharmacists more proficient and competent

3. Conference applauded the Federal Government through the Presidency, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Honourable Minister of Health for reconstituting the PCN in line with due process along other professional regulatory councils in the health sector. Conference therefore called on pharmacists to brace up to their full implications of the PCN.

4. Conference challenged the PCN to hit the ground running in the right direction by ensuring the main thrust of the activities of the PCN vis practice, training and disciplinary action are given a new lease of life in the present dispensation . Conference approved a moderate and realistic review of all applicable statutory fees to enables the PCN come up with a robust output in the area of monitoring and control of pharmaceutical premises relevant MCPD programme as well as stepping up its disciplinary procedures to tackle erring pharmacists, support staff in pharmacy and pharmaceutical companies. Conference strongly urged the PCN in view of these developments to take over the secretariat of PIC activities through the various state/zonal offices in the 36 states and the FCT Abuja in direct tandem with the approbation in sectional 1 (1)d of the PCN Act that gives PCN express powers to regulate and control pharmacy practice in all its aspects and ramifications in Nigeria

5.Conference recommended that MCPD should be strengthened and it should draw from every area of practice of Pharmacy to strengthen the content and delivery and shore up the quality of the training Conference believed that while younger pharmacists are upbeat with developments and new ways of practices, the older pharmacists through the MCPD and other educative seminars would be able to catch up with same, In similar spirit Conference called for a Pharmacy educational system that is restructured to match new challenges and trends in the world acclaimed best practices such that the authority of the pharmacist stems from service delivery.

6. Conference lamented the myriad emerging challenges with respect to placement for the compulsory one year internship for freshly graduated pharmacist. Conference called on the PCN to embark on massive accreditation of outstanding community pharmacies in  Nigeria for internship to reduce associated stress junctions in internship training, while also counseling intern pharmacists to see the mandatory one year internship truly as a period of training. 

7. Conference deliberated on issues arising from the National Drug Distribution Guidelines in the areas of coordination, implementation and implementation challenges. Conference reasoned that lapses In our drug distribution chains are responsible for persisting presence of fake and substandard drug products in Nigeria, Conference called to pharmacists to demonstrate strong win to carry through this lofty project by keying into) the distribution guidelines without delay. Conference advised the Federal Government to do more to achieve success to this policy guidelines by enacting substantive laws to guide and streamline the operation of the policy, Conference, in strongly encouraging pharmacists full participation in this policy guidelines implementations mandated the PSN to promote pharmacists' friendly Mega Drug Distribution Company (MDDC) and encourage every pharmacist to buy equity shares of not less than N1,O00 000 (one hundred thousand naira} on the strength of the above resolution. 

8. Conference recommended that the 2012 PSN National Good Pharmacy Practice guidelines should become a working document for practice for every registered pharmacist in Nigeria, 

9. Conference viewed with regrets, the invasion of pharmacies by the Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria {CPC) as an illegal incursion into Pharmacy, and therefore mandated the PCN/PSN to challenge that action in a court of competent jurisdiction, Conference lauded the President and Council for its proactive stance on attempts by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Federal Ministry of Education run unapproved programmes by the PCN for a new cadre of players in pharmacy practice, Conference mandated the President to go all the way to legally redress this matter if on-going dialogue does not yield dividends, 

10. Conference put on record its deep appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Health of the inauguration of a committee on National Prescription Policy, Conference noted reports of the progress and the potential reforms the envisaged National Prescription Policy offers consumers of health in Nigeria. This no doubt will address and streamline the roles of all providers in the health sector. Pharmacists under the aegis of the PSN however mandated the President of the PSN to withdraw his membership and all other technical’s groups of the PSN from activities of the National Committee if any of the fundamental issues agreed on by stakeholders at committee level is altered by the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health based on fresh posturing in that regards from usually reliable sources, 

11. Conference reviewed matters arising with regards to the National Health Bill and once again admonished the National Assembly to immediately amend the controversial section 1{1} which is in direct conflict with provisions in the existing Acts of Parliaments including the PCN Act, Medical Laboratory Science Council Act and Nursing and Midwifery Council Act to remove suspicions that the Health Bill is an attempt to forcibly remove the autonomy of other health professions in Nigeria. Conference also counseled the National Assembly to open the frontiers in the borders of healthcare by removing the unconstitutional clauses in section 9 of the draft health bill which vests the headship of the proposed national institution in ONLY ONE profession in a muti-disciplinary health sector, Conference empowered the President of the PSN to join forces with other allies to enforce constitutional imperatives in this regards should anything contrary to the above arise in the months ahead. 

12. Conference received and discussed issues on research and economic development and how to link research into health development programmes. Conference foresaw the rich potential of herbal medical resources and urged government to tap into these to harness benefits inherent in herbal medicines. Conference in appreciating the efforts of the government called on it to further provide coordination, among the health the related research bodies in Nigeria, 

13. Conference challenged hospital and community pharmacists to adopt the right mental attitude and focus in matching expectations of the consuming public with regards to new roles in Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) as approved by the National Council no Health, appropriate drug labeling through the dispensing software initiative and other responsibilities as they emerge from on-going consultations with government at all levels, 

14, Conference condemned in strong and absolute terms the extremely rude posturing of the President of NMA. Dr. Osahon Enabulele who has never failed to show contempt, hatred and bitterness in comments against the profession of pharmacy and the leadership of PSN. Conference in particular decried the destructive mission of the Enabulele led NMA and his allies in the Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria who intimidated the management of Central Hospital. Benin into refusing access to the fidelities of the hospital to train pharmacy students who are citizens of Nigeria who will offer a benefit package to the indigenes of Edo State in future only on grounds of professional arrogance. Conference therefore renewed earlier calls that the Comrade Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole step into the situation urgently with it view to redressing such aberrations in the long term interest of the citizenry. 

15. Conference appraised the totality of the strategies to reposition pharmacy practice in Nigeria and gave kudos to the NEC and Council for some achievements in recent times; Conference acknowledged a need to consolidate these gains and therefore recognized the fledging League of Pharmacist Directors of Nigeria as a support group in Organised pharmacy. 

16. Conference called on the Head of Service of the Federation and Chairman, National Salaries and Wages Commission to urgently review the remuneration, allowances and other professional privileges due hospital pharmacists in the spirit of fairness, equity and justice as this will boost morale while also guaranteeing reward for labour for these key personnel in healthcare in Nigeria. 

17. Conference endorsed proposed amendments to the PSN Constitution 2005 and gave approval for the use of a new PSN Constitution 2013, 

18. Conference Specially acknowledged with an award plaque the efforts of Dr Rabiu  Musa Kwankwaso, the Executive Governor of Kano for contributing to sanitising the drug distribution channel in Nigeria through the closure of the Sabongari drug market in Kano, Kano State and his genuine investment in manpower development in pharmacy practice in Kano. 

19. Conference thanked the Executive Governor of Kwara State, the Emir of ilorin and the good people of Kwara State for their hospitality which facilitated the success of the Conference. 

At the end of the Conference, the AGM elected the following pharmacists to serve and pilot the affairs of the Society for the next one year. 

1. Pharm. Olumide Akintoyo, FPSN,FPCPharm, FNIM - President

2. Pharm. Idris Pada, FPCPharm   -   Deputy President (North)

3. Pharm. Ernest Okoli, FPSN        -    Duputy President (South)

4. Pharm. Victor Okoli, MAW      -    National Secretary

5. Pharm.  Elechi Oyim      -    Asst.  National Secretary

6. Pharm. Margaret Obono, FPCPharm -  National Treasurer

7. Pharm. (Dr) Tawa Idubor, FPSN -  National Financial Secretary

8. Pharm. (Dr) Egbuna Edeorah -  National Pubilicty Secretary

9. Pharm. Ibrahim Oraega, FPCPharm, Ph.D - Editor-in-Chirf

10. Pharm. Jimoh Adebayo - Internal Auditor

11. Pharm. Ibrahim Tanko Ayuba, FPSN - Unoffical Member

12. Pharm (Dr) Nkechi Anyanwu, FPSN - Unoffical Member

13. Pharm. Azubike Okwor, FPSN, FPCPhram, FFIP - Immediate Past President

 

Signed

Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, FPSN, FPCPhram, FNIM

President

Phram. Victor Okwuosa, MAW

National Secretary