Communique of The Pharmacy Education Summit Organized By The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy in Collaboration with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) Held from wednesday, 22nd to Thursday, 23rd April, 2015 at the University of Lagos Guest Houses/Conference Centre, Akoka, Lagos

 

1.  The theme of the Summit was "Education for Professional Excellence" 

 

2.  The summit was declared opened by the Special Guest of Honour, The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan. 

 

3.  In attendance were. the Guest of Honour and Vice Chancel or, University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Bello accompanied by his Deputy Vice Chancellors, the President of the Academy of Pharmacy, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharm OIumide Akintayo, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, the Chairman, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) , Pharm. Bruno Nwankwo, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii. Deans of Faculties of Pharmacy, Directors of Pharmaceutical Services from various States, Chieftains of the Pharmaceutical Industry. Fellows of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, representatives of Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas (NAPPSA) and a host of distinguished Pharmacists from all parts of the Country. 

 

4.  The keynote address was delivered by a renowned educationist and distinguished Pharmacist, Prof (Mrs) Cecilia Igwilo who is also the Chairman of the Education committee of the Academy. Other distin- guished speakers included: Prof. Fola Tayo, Pro-Chancellor of Caleb University and Former Dean of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Dr Teresa Isichie Pounds, Consultant Pharmacist, Atlanta Medical Centre, USA, Pharm. Azubike Okwor, Former PSN President, Prof. Chinedum Babalola, Dean of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Dr. Bugewa Apampa, Director. of Pharmacy, Sussex University, UK, Pharm. Ngozi Chu-Madu, Consultant Pharmacist, Enugu, Prof. Augustine Okhamafe, Former Dean and Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof. G. O.G. Awosanya, Provost, Lagos State University College of Medicine and Pharm. N.A.E. Mohammed, Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria(PCN). . 

 

5.  The summit deliberated on the current status of Pharmacy education and practice in Nigeria with emphasis on the responsiveness to the needs of Nigerians and the fulfillment of the mission of the profession. The global trends of Pharmacy Education and training and the contemporariness of the practice in Nigeria compared to the global best practices were also exhaustively discussed. From the very enlightening and educative discussion, the Summit came up with the following observations and recommendations: 

 

(I) OBSERVATIONS

a.  That the current pharmacy curriculum in Nigerian Universities is very vast in pharmaceutical sciences and has produced pharmaceutical scientists who compare favorably with their counterparts all over the world. However, there is a pressing need for the curriculum to be adjusted to accommodate the paradigm shift in Pharmacy education and practice which is more patient-oriented. 

 

b.  That there is a huge gap between training and practice of Pharmacy in Nigeria. This problem is compounded by the fact that most pharmacy training institutions are located outside the hospital environment. This mode of teaching has prevented the experiential learning which is required in the training of WHO-recommended 7-Star Pharmacists. 

 

c.  That Pharmacy teachers in Nigeria are currently not afforded the opportunity of practicing what they teach and are therefore unable to fully bring practical experience to bear on the theoretical knowledge 

transferred to the students.

 

d.  That there is a gross underutilization of the knowledge and potentials of pharmacists despite the huge public and private investment in the training of pharmacists. The public is therefore deprived of the immense benefits of an ideal Pharmacy practice. . 

 

e.  That there is urgent need to explore new strategies to strengthen and increase the capacity of training institutions to reflect an education that produces competent pharmacists to provide services that satisfy local and international needs 

 

f.  That, statistically, Nigeria is far from the WHO recommended Pharmacists to population ratio and this has given room for quackery which has endangered public health. 

 

g.  That the pharmacy department of most health facilities at all levels of care are not adequately equipped for the training and practice of modern day Pharmacy. 

 

h.  That the process of reviewing our laws in tandem with modern practice is very tedious and expensive. Moreover, enforcement of pharmacy laws has been weakened over the years due to poor funding, over-lap of function, lack of political will and conflict of interest. . 

 

That inadequate human resources for health including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians is a growing problem that is undermining all efforts to strengthen health systems and efforts to improve health- 

care in Nigeria. 

 

 

5(II). RECOMMENDATIONS 

a.  That a new curriculum, which is driven by the philosophy and vision of the profession, should be developed as a matter of urgency. The curriculum should include but not limited to:  

 

(b) That the Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm. D) should be the minimum registrable qualification for the profession by 2023. 

(c) That all accredited pharmacy schools in Nigeria should commence admission of students for the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm. D) degree programme as from 2016/2017 academic year. 

(d) That Government should invest heavily on manpower development and Pharmacy Education by creating more schools and adequately funding the existing ones. 

(e) That Pharmacy teachers should be appointed as consultants in the teaching and specialist hospitals to serve as preceptors for the training of pharmacy students at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. 

(f) That Government should adequately equip hospitals at all levels of care with tools that will aid experiential learning for pharmacists and other stakeholders in the health care Industry. 

(g) That Government should, as a matter of policy, encourage collaborative Pharmacy practice in the hospitals with greater involvement of Pharmacists in health care system and wider use of their broad academic background. 

(h) That the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, in collaboration with relevant arms of government, should commence immediate review of pharmacy laws and regulation in tandem with global best practices. 

(I) That Government should adequately fund the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria to be able to discharge its statutory obligations in the regulation and enforcement of statutory laws. 

(J)Summit specially called for a review of the national drug policy for Nigeria and the development of a national vision for pharmacy education and practice with appropriate roles and competencies for pharmacists 

 

Summit wishes to thank all stakeholders especially the National Universities Commission. Federal Ministry of Health, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Pharmaceutical Companies for the success of 

the Summit. 

 

Signed 

Pharm. (Prof) Fola 

General Secretary 

Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy 

 

Pharm. NAE Mohammed FPSN, FNIM 

Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria