Communique of the 87th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Tagged "Ibom 2014" Held at  the Ibom Hall, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State From 3rd to 8th November, 2014

 

The theme of the conference was: "TRANSFORMING PHARMACY PRAaiCE FOR BEITER OUTCOMES" The conference was declared open by His Excellency, Chief (Dr.) Godswill Akpobio,CON, the Executive Governor of Akwa State.

Other dignitaries at the opening ceremony included: The Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Mortin Elechi,CON, the  

Deputy Governor of Akwa Iborn State, Noble Lady Barr. Valerie Ebe, Mr. Udom Inoyo, Executive Director, Human Resources, Exxon Mobil Nigeria, 

who was Chairman of the Opening Ceremony of the Conference; His Excellency, Elder Esang Bassey, Permanent Secretary, AkwI Ibom  

State Ministry of Special Duties, Pharm. Bruno Nwonkwo,FPSN, Chairman, Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN), the PCN  Registrar,

Pharm. N. A. E. Mohammed, FPSN,FNIM, the Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital (UCH), Prof. Temitope Alonge,  FWACS, FRCS, the Secrtary General of the west African Postgraduate College of Pharmadsts (WAPCP), Prof. Wilson Erhun FPSN, FPSCPharm, FNAPharm, Pharm. (Dr.) Monica Hemben Eimunjeze, Director of Registration and Regulatory Affairs, National  Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions, Comrade (Dr.)  AyubaWaba, mni, Chairman, Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations, Dr. G. C. Okara, the President of the Chartered  Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Mr. M. A. C. Dike, FCTI, Past President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria including Pharm  Lady (Sen.) Eme 

Ufot Ekaette, FPSN, FPCPharm,MFR Phram. Mohammed Yaro Budah,FPSN, FPCPharm, FNAPharm, mni, Pharm. (Dr.) U. N. O. Uwaga, FPSN, 

 

FPCPharm,FNAPharm,FNIM,mni, Pharm.(Sir)Anthony Akhimien,FPSN,FPCPharm,FNAPharm,FNIM and Pharm. Azubike Okwor, FPSN, FPCPharm, FNAPharm, FFIP, FNIM, and captains of the pharmaceutical industry. 

 

The keynote address was delivered by Pharm. Lere Baale,FPSN, FPCPharm, FNAPharm, Regional Director, Howes Consulting Group  and Director of Business School, Netherlands Nigeria. 

 

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

 

1. Conferences noted that the role of the Pharmacist has evolved from that of a compounder and supplier of products to that of  a provider of services, information and ultimately a provider of patient care. Conference therefore, urged Pharmacists to  accept responsibility for drug therapy management by acquiring the requisite knowledge and skills required for pharmaceutical care.  Conference admonished the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) to fully support the culture of pharmaceutical care in  training and practice. Conference called for the introduction of Fellowship Residency Programme for interested Pharmacists to drive  specialization, competency and commitment. Conference also noted with satisfaction the pace-setting residency program  introduced by West  African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) as part of requirements for satisfactory completion of its fellowship  programme. 

 

2. Conference recognized that transformation must start from the cradle emphasizing the need for a new and improved pharmacy  education curriculum in line with WHO/FIP recommendations to reflect the needs of the society in developing the practice of pharmacy in Nigeria. Conference reiterated its resolve that the Pharm. D degree shall be the minimum registration  qualification to practice pharmacy in Nigeria and called on all the Deans of Faculties of Pharmacy to produce a home-grown  Pharm. D curriculum which would produce high fliers in pharmacy to meet the various pharmaceutical needs of the Nigerian  health care system.

 

3. Conference commended the inauguration of the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy as a bold step towards transforming pharmacy.  Conference opined that the Academy will help promote pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, serve as a lobby and advocacy  group as well us provide thought and leadership in the practice of pharmacy thus ensuring the profession fulfills its mission to the larger society. Conference urged the Academy to liaise with other professional teams to create a larger health system  that delivers quality health services to Nigerians, while endorsing its planned Education Summit slated for early 2015. 

 

4. Conference highlighted the wide gap between available and required Pharmacists to meet the needs of society. Conference  therefore calls for a plan to expand the size of pharmaceutical workforce in order to provide direct patient/pharmaceutical  care, drug therapy management and other cognitive duties. In the short-term, Conference emphaisied a need for proper  utilization of pharmacy technicians and other support staff to free Pharmacists for core pharmaceuitcal functions.

 

5. Conference demanded a strengthening and re-structuring of the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) Program in order to provide a platform for the reinforcement and development of skills, and knowledge in various areas required to  produce well rounded pharmacy professionals The Program which should be tailored to individual proactive areas should also  provide training in general topics like retail Management, accounting and financial literacy, ICT, human resource management, and so on.

6. Conference further declared that Pharmacist are required to work in Multidisciplinary, patient-centered teams, in order to ensure communication and collaboration with patients and other members of the health care team. in Community Pharmacists should pursue primary care certification with globally accredited Organization like WHO and UNICEF. Pharmacists under the  aegis of the PSN therefore called on pharmacy regulatory agencies, pharmacy associations and key leader in community pharmacy to engage with government and other healthcare professionals to publicize the value of Community Pharmacies and highlight  

their role in healthcare delivery to the public, especially at the public, especially at the grassroots level.

 

7. Conference noted that the state of the legal framework bucking up the profession is not sufficiently robust to drive the  transformations urgently required in pharmacy practice and opined that a review of all pharmacy laws in Country is critically required. Such laws should be properly crafted to provide the necessary deterrent to those that would be inclined to break  them and should be compact enough to ensure appropriate penalty for each offense. Conference also called on the Pharmacists  Council of Nigeria (PSN) to look into the various overlaps with other regulatory bodies which often results in constant  harassments and intimidation by these agencies of government with a view to providing a conducive environment for Pharmacists to practice.

 

8. Conference approved to proactive stance of NEC & Council of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) in promoting a drug  distribution project which is aimed at developing a mega drug distribution concept within the framework of the National Drug  Distribution Policy of the Federal Government. Conference encouraged Pharmacist's full participation in this project which  will empower Pharmacists and place drugs within the full control of Pharmacists at at all levels. In particular conference  admonished Pharmacists to buy shares of the proposed Ultra Logistics Company Limited, a wholly PSN initiative.

 

9. Conference applauded the World health Organisation (WHO) certification of 3 new pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria and  charged them live up to expectation. Conference however noted with dismay the continued under-utilization of installed  capacity in the pharmaceutical industry with high import dependence for machinery, active ingredients, other raw materials as well as packaging materials and calls for a concerted plan by Industrial Pharmacists, relevant regulatory agencies and  Government that will facilitate a departure from the status quo. Conference therefore admonished Government at all levels to  place premium on patron sing the Pharmaceutical industry.

 

10. Conference clamored for Stronger collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry and the academia on the area of  research and drug development in order to produce both locally available active molecules and other raw materials as one of  the ways to attain self-sufficiency in local drug manufacture.

 

11. Conference reviewed the on-going strike action of health workers in Nigeria and condemned the deplorable welfare  conditions of care-providers in Nigeria. Conference lamented the apparent slow response of Government and in some other  instances outright neglect in frustrating the legitimate desires of health professional for Consultancy Cadres and payment of specialist allowances, adjustment of the CONHESS Salary Scale to restore parity with CONMESS sacle, amendment of obnoxious  provisions in the Teaching Hospital Act, poor implementation of the Nigeria Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) which has recorded less than 5% coverage of enrollees despite huge funds disbursed in the scheme and other welfare issues especially against  against the background of fruitless dialogue since 2009 with Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU). Conference alerted the  Federal Government of the grave consequences of the Health Workers strike especially the vulnerability of the nation to the  Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) other disease states after a World Health Organisation (WHO) clean bill as the surveillance of the  parts of entry by health workers remains threatened by the avoidable industrial action.

 

12. Conference commended the National Assembly for the harmonised national Health Bill which has now been transmitted for  Presidential assent and strongly solicits the immediate assent of President Goodluk Jonathan, GCFR to enable a new dawn  unfold in the structuring of healthcare endeavors in Nigeria

 

13. Conference directed national Executive Council to come up with working groups in each of the technical/career options in  the profession with a view to coming up with a future developmental agenda for practitioners in the quest for professional  fulfillment.

 

14. Conference adopted a resolution to exploit I.T reforms which provides for common platforms for regulators in drug-distribution which would be accessible to consumers of health to consolidate the envisaged transformation process in  organised pharmacy.

 

15. Conference gave its nod to partner the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust fund (NSITF)  after well nurtured rules of  engagement with the Pharmaceutical Society o f Nigeria (PSN) and Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN) in a bid to embrace the  operational thrust of the NSITF in the areas of employer compensation other dimensions of social security as added boosts in  the welfare of Nigerian Pharmacists.

 

16. Conference critically appraised the political situation in the county and condemned the growing tendencies towards violence and impunity by the political class at both Federal and State levels. Conference in the light of the prevailing circumstance appealed to the Federal Government, Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political stakeholders to exercise restraint to bring the "political temperature" in Nigeria down as a refusal to heed this advice will expressly lead  to a scenario that there will be NO Nigeria to preside over

 

17. Conference congratulated Pharm Margaret Obono, MAW, FPCPharm, the winner of the 2014 May & Baker Award for Excellence for her intellectual prowess that sealed the award. 

In similar spirit Conference specially acknowledged the recipients of the Ambassador of Health Award of the PSN including His Excellency, alief Martin N, Elechi,CON, ExeCIJtive Governor of Ebonyi State, Comrade (Dr) Ayubo Wabbo,mni Chairman, Joint  Health Sector Union (JOHESU), Or. G.C Okara, Chairman, Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) and Prof.  Temif Ope  Alonge, Chief Medical Director, UCH, Ibadan. 

 

18. Conference thanked the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Chief (Dr) Godswill Akpobio, CON, the Deputy Governor, Noble Lady Barr. Valerie Ebe, and the good people of Akwa Ibom State for their hospitality which ladlilated the success of the Conference. Conference in particular puts on record its appreciation of the efforts of Governor Akpabio to ameliorate the initial stress junctions encountered at the on set of the conference especially in the area of accommodation for PSN delegates. 

 

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. Olurnide Akintayo, FPSN, FPCPharm, FNAPharm, FNIM  - President 

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

3.     Pharm. (Or) Chimo Emest Okoli,  -  FPSN Deputy President (South) 

4.     Pharm, Gbolagade Iyiola, MAW -  National Secretary 

5.     Pharm. Elechi Oyim FPCPharm, - Asst Notional Secretary 

6.     Pharm. Emeka Callistus Duru  - Nanonal Treasurer 

7.     Pharm. (Dr.) Tawa Idubor,    -  PhD,FPSN, FPCPharm, Notional financial Secretary

8.      Pharm, (Dr.) Egbuno Edeorah  - National Publicity Secretary 

9.      Pharm. (Dr) Nus. Bolaiako Aino, Ph.D - Editor-in-Chief 

10.     Pharm Amid Olonrewaju Alege, MAW     - Internal Auditor 

11.     Pharm. Ibrahim Tonko Ayubo, FPSN,    - Unoffical Member 

12.     Pharm. (Or.) Nkechi Anyonwu, FPSN, FPCPhorm - Immediate Member 

13.     Pharm, Azubikeilkwor, FPSN, FPCPharm, FNAPharm, FNAPharm, FNIM Immediate Past President

 

SIGNED

PHARM. OLUMIDE AKINTAYO, FPSN,  FPCPharm, FNAPharm, F

PRESIDENT

 

PHARM. VICTOR OKWUOSA, MAW

NATIOANL SECRETRAY