The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has condemned the stagnation of pharmacists in the civil service, saying it is saddening that most pharmacists in the public sector are not allowed to reach level 17, which is the peak of their career. This non-advancement to the zenith of their careers, PSN insisted, has led to incessant dampening of morale of public sector pharmacists.
The above was part of the highlights of an address by PSN President, Prof Cyril Odianose Usifoh, to herald its 95th Annual National Scientific, holding in Jos, Plateau State, from the 31st of October to the 4th of November, with the theme “Medicine Security in an Unstable Economy.”
“We request for the promotion of pharmacists to level 17 as it is being done to other professionals in the public service across board,” he said. According to PSN boss, the current scheme of service for pharmacists came into existence in 2005 and is long overdue for review. “We hereby request for the immediate review of the scheme of service for pharmacists. This new scheme of service is expected to incorporate the enhanced entry point and enhanced call duty allowance for Pharm. D holders and the approved Consultancy Cadre for pharmacists.”
Regarding the implementation of the Pharmacists’ Consultancy Cadre, Prof Osifoh lamented that following the approval of the Consultancy Cadre for Pharmacists in 2019 and subsequent release of several extant circulars from 2020, it is unspeakable that pharmacists have been denied their rights to consultancy in the public sector. “We hereby request for the implementation of this circular across board without further delay. The salary structure of the pharmacists have remained the same for over a decade while that of their medical counterparts have been reviewed upwards twice in rapid succession. We hereby request for the upward review of the salary structure for pharmacists (CONHESS) to reflect the current realities as adjusted for CONMESS. This should be done as the plans are on to review all health workers salary in the nation.”
On the pharmacists in tertiary health institutions, the Nigerian University Commission (NUC) and National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) “have perpetually denied our members working in tertiary health institutions their rights to some privileges, claiming that only the above mentioned agencies could give directives for implementation. We wish to request the Federal Ministry of Health or any other agencies issuing out circulars to also direct the above agencies appropriately.”