I wish all Nigerian Pharmacists at home and abroad a happy Easter celebration. I pray that all our hopes and aspirations, both as individuals and as a professional group, would be met in Jesus name.

 

Today, marks the beginning of the second quarter of 2018. In the next few days, the leadership team of the PCN will be doing a strategic appraisal of the activities of the first quarter with a view to evaluating performance of the registry and re-aligning expectations for the remaining three quarters of the year.

 

I would like to use this opportunity to appreciate all those who worked conscientiously towards the successful passage of the PCN bill by the National assembly. The full details of the bill would be shared with colleagues once the bill is signed into law by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This would  then be followed by PCN-hosted stakeholder meetings in all geo-political zones of the country.

 

Also in line with the commitment of PCN to rid the country of the menace of prescription medicines abuse, a position paper was presented at the public hearing organised by the senate in the month of march 2018.

 

Following the expiration of the 3 months grace period given to colleagues to update their registration status, enforcement activities would begin in full force in the month of April. I encourage all colleagues who are yet to conclude their registration formalities to do so without further delay. 

 

I would like to thank all those who have made very useful reports using the recently launched  digital malpractice reporting platform.  I encourage all colleagues across the country to use this platform to report any malpractice observed. This could include individual professional malpractice, Illegal Premises (Pharmacy or Patent medicine shop) and any other malpractice observed. To make a report, please click the link www.pcn.gov.ng/pcnmonitor

 

In the month of March, 131 new Pharmacists were inducted into our noble profession. Join me in congratulating the 55  Pharmacists who graduated from the University of Ibadan and 76 from the Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto. Also on the 24th of  March, the PCN conducted the first edition of the PEP examination for 2017. The program recorded a 92% success rate and details of the result will be officially released on 3rd April. Candidates who failed the examination have another opportunity to sit for the second edition coming up in October.

 

The PCN wishes to appreciate the Niger State Ministry of Health and the entire body of dynamic Pharmacists in the  State for blazing the trail in organising a one-day CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR PHARMACY TECHNICIANS on the 6th of March 2018.

 

As earlier announced, we had a smooth kick off for the Special PharmD program in Benin. We implore all those enlisted in the program to remain committed to the program till the end of the 12 month program. This would go a long way in entrenching the program in the Pharmacy curriculum in Nigeria.

 

On behalf of the Registry, I would like to thank all Pharmacists for the support we have received so far in 2018, as we strive to deliver on our mandate to positively reposition the profession and practice of Pharmacy in Nigeria

 

Yours in Service

 

Elijah Mohammed FPSN, FNAPharm, FNIM