Posted on: Sat 07-01-2017

The PSN wishes to inform all pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies that arrangements have been concluded with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) to facilitate a smooth registration season in 2017.

This is particularly key to achieving a faster pace of licensure of practitioners and pharmacy facilities to ensure that the tenets of Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) are entrenched for consumers of health in Nigeria.

In 2017 the procedures will entail that all pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies fulfill the protocols of regularizing their membership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) following which they would be issued Clearance Certificates by the respective state branches. Regularisation of membership will include the payment of a compulsory building fee of N5, 000 in line with resolution of the National Council of PSN passed on February 17, 2016. This move becomes necessary in line with Annual General Meeting (AGM) directives that NEC should commence a physical possession of the Pharmacy House at Victoria Island, in Lagos State and swing into action in building all our properties in Lagos and Abuja.

The Clearance Certificates will subsequently be used to obtain Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) scratch cards to proceed with registration formalities.

It is imperative to continue to stress the statutory/legal imperatives of the relevant pharmacy laws which include the proviso in part II section 4(1) and (2) which states inter-alia.

“4(1) A selling dispenser shall in the month of January in each year sent to the Registrar a list of all the premises (form B) where his business, so far as it comprises the sale of drugs is being carried on and the name of the selling dispenser or chemists having the personal control (form J) of the business on each premise.

4(2) A selling dispenser or chemist who fails to comply with the provisions of this section is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction in respect of each offence”.

In similar spirit, pharmacists in all cadres of practice are enjoined to immediately pay their practicing fees in view of section (14(1) of the PCN Act which provides that “No registered person shall practice as a pharmacist in any year unless he has paid to the Council in respect of that year, the appropriate practicing fee which shall be due every January.

It is important to inform members of the PSN that after due consultation with the PSN NEC, the PCN has taken a bold decision to invoke the provisions of section 14(6) of the PCN Act which posits that “any pharmacist who in respect of any year without paying the practicing fee practices as such is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction”.

The National Secretariat of the PSN will continue to evaluate the registration procedure in all states to ensure that the consuming public has access to good quality and registered pharmacy facilities in 2017.

The PSN National Secretariat conscious of its responsibilities has also continued to engage the Federal Government and other level of Government including the appropriate regulatory agencies via PCN and NAFDAC on the need to enforce all Pharmacy and Drug Laws in the months ahead. Naturally, registered pharmacists must continue to set noble standards and we urge all to heed this clarion call by getting registered to avoid embarrassments

 Finally, we do solicit the maximum cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure the success of this arrangement in the ultimate professional and public interest.

On a final note, we must have elevated heartset, healthset and soulset for a superb mindset in 2017.

Once again, happy New Year!

Thank you.

Pharm. Ahmed I.Yakasai, FPSN, FNAPharm, FNIM

President of PSN

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