Plans are under way to convene a stakeholders' meeting of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), and its related bodies by the National Universities Commission (NUC), to resolve the lingering issues bothering on the commencement of the Pharm D Programme in Nigerian Universities. The Executive Secretary, NUC, Professor Julius Okojie, OON gave the hint at a meeting of the NUC Management and the PCN.

 

Professor Okojie stated that the Commission was not opposed to the introduction of Pharm D programme in the NUS, as it had earlier made efforts to introduce the programme through the then Minister of Education but was unsuccessful. He observed that the Commission frowned at a situation whereby a university mounted the programme without a Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS), which is the basic instrument used for accreditation of programmes and a prior approval of the Commission. 

 

He observed that although the university might have good intention, its approach did not follow due process. According to him ''we are not averse to Pharm D programme, but we have to go through the right process. Without a BMAS, how do you evaluate a programme? Let us approach Pharm D programme diligently.''

 

The Executive Secretary stated that before any new programme was introduced in the NUS, the critical mass of both human and material resources must be in place to ensure a smooth take off, adding that the fact that the programme was taught in other countries was not a guarantee that it could be introduced in the NUS without adequate basic resources. He therefore, advocated a staff and students audit in Pharmacy programmes across the country in order to determine what level of additional capacity building was required to fill the gap.

 

Professor Okojie advised the PCN to adhere strictly to NUC's regulations so as to ensure a seamless transition from B. Pharm to Pharm D. or otherwise, the continuation of both as might be determined by the Commission based on national needs. He observed that although most professional bodies were involved in the accreditation of professional programmes, they were expected to regulate only practice and not programmes. He maintained that the NUC was the only body empowered by Law to regulate programmes in the country. He advised that as a remedial measure on those who graduated from the Pharm D Programme earlier, the PCN should consider a Six months short course to retrain them on the necessary skills required.

 

Highlighting the purpose of the visit, the Registrar of the Council, Pharm. N. E. A. Mohammed, said that the visit was aimed at seeking the Commission's approval for the Pharm D programme, adding that it was a six-year first degree programme being ran by countries such as the United States, Ghana, Kenya, Canada, Netherlands, UAE, Italy, France, Thailand, Tunisia, Brazil, South Africa, amongst others. He stated that between 2011-2015, a total of 82 Nigerian pharmacists, with Pharm D degrees from universities in other countries, had been registered by the PCN to practice in Nigeria.

 

The Registrar said that the introduction of the Pharm D programme would ensure that Nigerian pharmacists were at par with their peers abroad. According to him, ''It is pertinent for us to take a second look and give official recognition of the programme to enable qualified Nigerians to access such quality educational training for the benefit of the public. Secondly, the official recognition would enable those already qualified to fit properly into the civil service scheme in Nigeria.

 

In his remarks, the PCN President Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, appreciated the Executive Secretary for his unflinching support towards the introduction of Pharm D. Programme in the NUS, adding that the programme would not only bring Nigerian graduates at par with their counterparts abroad, but would also enhance the practice in the country.

 

In the PCN delegation were the former President of PCN, Pharm. Akhimien Anthony, Professor A. O. Okhamafe, Pharm. T.O. Ilupeju and Pharm. Usman Monday