Posted on: Wed 03-07-2019

In the month of June 2019, a total of 173 new Pharmacists were inducted into our noble profession. This comprises 115 from University of Benin, while those on supplementary induction were 41 from University of Lagos and 18 from Igbinedion University, Okada.  Furthermore, the PCN University accreditation team paid a re-accreditation visit to University of Ilorin and advisory visit to University of Calabar.

In the quest of the Council to ensure maintenance of good practice in hospital pharmacy in Nigeria, the PCN has commenced a Nationwide Hospital Pharmacy Inspection of both public and private health facilities starting from June 24, 2019.  The Inspection Teams are to visit hospitals in Imo, Anambra, Edo, Delta, Ondo and Osun States.

Also, in the month of June 2019, the PCN national enforcement team visited Nasarawa State on enforcement activities. In the process a total of 231 premises were sealed for non-compliance. These comprised of 18 pharmacies and 213 patent medicines shops, while 8 premises were issued compliance directives.  In the same vein, the Enforcement Team was in Katsina State from June 24, 2019 for one-week enforcement activity. In the process, a total of 505 premises were sealed for non-compliance. This comprises 19 pharmacies and 486 patent medicines shops, while 9 premises were issued compliance directives.

In order for Nigeria to have a National Regulatory Authority (NRA) that is in competitiveness with Global Best Practices, a team of Assessors from World Health Organisation (WHO) were in PCN and NAFDAC in the month of June 2019 to Benchmark the quality, standard and adequacy of each Agency’s Regulatory Framework and adequacy of regulatory instruments to perform its functions optimally. The overall objective of the exercise is to strengthen the regulatory functions, identify gaps and make appropriate recommendations that will move Nigeria Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authorities to global standard.

Pursuant to the open door policy of the PCN administration, the Registrar along with the management and staff of the PCN received Officials and Course Participants from National Institute for Policy and Strategic Study (NIPSS) on June 21, 2019. The participants were in PCN for a Study Tour on Legal Framework, Policy Formulation, Processes and Implementation Strategies and their impact. In the process, the Registrar made a paper presentation on the subject matter which is expected to add to the body of knowledge of the Course Participants tremendously. The course participants generally expressed satisfaction with the robust interaction that ensued with PCN.

Yours in Service

Elijah Mohammed, FNIM, FPSN, FPCPharm, FNAPharm,

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