Pharmacists under the auspices of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), are advocating an amendment of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act to accommodate a new Directorate of Consumer Protection to address the recurring menace of drug misuse and abuse in the country.
The PSN which made the call in a position paper on ‘Drug Misuse and Abuse,’ which was presented to the National Assembly on Monday, also urged the National Assembly to ensure a speedy Presidential assent to the amended Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Bill, recently passed into law.
.jpg)
In the statement, which was signed by the President of the PSN, Dr. Ahmed Yakasai, the PSN said the proposed Directorate of Consumer Protection, had become necessary against the background of drug misuse and abuse, which was now taking unprecedented toll on the health of the consuming public in Nigeria. The proposed Directorate of Consumer Protection should be headed by a Registered Pharmacist, the PSN suggested.
Similarly the PSN appealed to the National Assembly to consider dispensing meaningful budgets for the inspectorate activities of the PCN. “In similar spirit, these enhanced budgets must be extended to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the NDLEA,” he added.
The PSN noted that the Consumer Protection Directorate will be empowered to coordinate health advocacy and monitoring/control of narcotics and other medicines with abuse and misuse potentials in Nigeria.
“It is important that the amended NDLEA Act provides for the establishment of National Rehabilitation Centres for victims of drug abuse in the six geo-political zones of the country.
“The rehabilitation centres will be under the supervision of the directorate of Health Advocacy and Monitoring/Control,” added Yakasai.
On the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Bill, Yakasai said, “We strongly urged the National Assembly to ensure a speedy Presidential assent to enable the new Act of Parliament re-shape the course of monitoring and control procedures in Nigeria.
“The envisaged PCN Bill is well grounded in law to boost the inspectorate activities of PCN which has statutory powers to regulate and control all pharmaceutical premises in both public and private sectors.”
According to him, this mandate would give the PCN latitude to modulate the activities of any stakeholder in the drug distribution channels in Nigeria.
Furthermore, the PSN strongly urged the National Assembly to ensure that the executive arm of government constitutes the Governing Council and Boards of the plethora of agencies involved in drug distribution.
“This is particularly germane for an effective execution of the statutory mandate of the three principal agencies of the Federal Government involved in drug distribution endeavours in Nigeria including the PCN, NAFDAC and the NDLEA.”
Source: New Telegraph News
ABUJA: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
PORTHARCOURT: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
LAGOS: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED
You may also like
APHPN Fills the Void: Virtual Learning and PHC Revamp as Government Apathy Persists
When the government continues to underfund and overlook the foundation of N…
When Systems Fail, Professionals Step Up: APHPN’s Bold Adoption of 222 PHCs Exposes a National Health Crisis
There’s a moment in every failing system when those within it can no longer…
Malaria Ends with Us: Why the UNILAG Health Campaign Was More Than Just a One-Day Event
On April 25th, the University of Lagos didn't just host an event—it ignited…
Building a Healthier Nigeria: Why Tinubu’s Bold Healthcare Agenda Deserves Attention—and Support
For years, Nigerians have echoed the adage “health is wealth”—a truth often…
A Smart Move for Health Security: Nasarawa’s Embrace of Measles-Rubella Vaccine Is the Kind of Leadership Nigeria Needs
In a country where preventable diseases still claim young lives, Nasarawa S…
