The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Pharmacists

  • Pharmacists seek govt’s support

    For the nation’s pharmaceutical companies to maintain the lead in the production of quality drugs in West Africa and be competitive globally, the Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) has called on the Federal Government to earmark a N200 billion intervention fund for the sector, coupled with other initiatives.

    The manufacturers and other stakeholders, who met at the opening of the 3rd Nigeria Pharma Manufactures’ exhibition 2015 in Lagos, said the call was in line with relevant industrial policies to help the sector maximise its potentials.

    The exhibition, whose theme was: “The Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and international competitiveness”, was an initiative to draw global attention to the nation’s pharma sector, which is now vibrant. The sector is currently estimated to be in excess of $3B (N500b) and is serving Nigerians and about 100 million citizens in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. The pharm industry, according to PMG-MAN secretariat, has the potential to remain a pharmaceutical power house in the continent with capacity to supply regional needs, and participate in international tenders.

    According to the Chairman of the PMG-MAN, Okey Akpa, with the recent milestones recorded by companies in the sector, the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry was already positioned to operate at the global level, should government assent to these demands. “Nigeria is currently the biggest pharmaceutical manufacturing country in West Africa, accounting for more than 65 per cent of local manufacturing of medicines that are relevant to the region,” he said.

    Akpa said among the drugs are anti-malarial medicines, anti-retrovirals, herbal medicines and medicines for sickle cell diseases.   To make impact on the global stage, he said, several manufacturers had processed Expression of Interest (EoI) with the World Health Organisation (WHO) for pre-qualification of products, with cummulative investment worth of over $50 million in the last five years for facility upgrading.

    The chairman said four companies had been certified by the WHO, and at least 10 local companies had complied with the requirements of International Standards Organisation and were already supplying drugs to the United Nations Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women’s Children’s Health (UNCoLs).

    Others who made a case for the sector are the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Linus Awute; National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Director-General, Dr. Paul Orhii; President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Olumide Akintayo and President of West African Manufacturers Organisation, Bunmi Olaopa and representatives of India and Chinese companies.

    He said the achievements in the sector had been by individual manufacturers’ investment and years of hard work, and that the government and other stakeholders have to do more. “Without doubt, patronage of Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturers by government, donors and international procuring agencies is critical and must be backed by political will. We are, therefore, calling on the Federal Government to implement the Domestic Preference Policy of the Public Procurement Act 2007 as well as the implementation of the Presidential Directive on Patronage of Nigerian Manufacturers,” he said.

    To ensure success of the policy, the chairman recommended “an import adjustment tax of 20 per cent on imported finished pharmaceutical products; HS Codes 3003 and 3004 should be imposed immediately as applied to other sectors where Nigeria has capacity as allowed by the Common External Tariff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).”

    “Input into pharmaceutical manufacturing and packaging should be allowed to be imported at zero per cent by bonafide pharmaceutical manufacturers,” he said.

    Orhii, who chaired the event praised the manufacturers for the feat so far achieved, saying NAFDAC would continue to collaborate with them and rid the Nigerian market of fake products.

    He appealed to the government and Bank of Industry to revisit an earlier proposal for N200 billion intervention trust fund for the pharma manufacturer. He recalled that the proposal was considered by the last administration, but nothing was heard of it.

    The NAFDAC DG was happy that the National Drug Distribution Policy, which regulates drug distribution national wide, is due to take effect, but expressed concerns that stakeholders have not done enough to put the necessary infrastructure in place.

  • Training for pharmacists

    Training for pharmacists

    In its resolve to improve quality of life by enabling people to feel better and live longer, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)–one of world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and health care companies–has gone into partnership with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) on an innovative training programme, tagged Scientific Course for Pharmacist Education (SCOPE), which aims at enhancing knowledge of Nigerian pharmacists.

    According to the partners, SCOPE, a non-promotional and free online training programme for pharmacists, consists of nine disease area modules that are accredited by the United States-based Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE).

    In her contribution at the media conference held in Lagos to announce the partnership, Google Nigeria Country Manager, Mrs Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor explains that “the Internet plays a key role in professional development across all sectors and it’s great to see GSK and PSN driving digital awareness within the pharmaceutical sector.”

    A 2013 survey conducted in Nigeria revealed that 50 per cent of pharmacists seek training as value added service from GSK. This need led to the development and launch of SCOPE, which is designed to enhance the knowledge base of pharmacists and improve pharmaceutical care outcomes for patients at the pharmacy. These would improve patients’ productivity and well-being, thereby building credibility for pharmacists within their communities.

    The Commercial Development Manager, Africa and Developing countries in Asia (ADC) Mr Jide Adeosun commended the PSN for pioneering the partnership with GSK.

    “We are committed to rolling out similar programmes across Africa,” he said.

    In his remarks at the media conference, PSN President, Mr. Olumide Akintayo revealed that successful completion of SCOPE is now one of the requirements to receive 10 credit points towards the required 30 credit points under the Mandatory Continuous Professional Development (MCPD) programme of the Pharmacists’ Council of Nigeria (PCN).

    Mr. Akintayo noted that the partnership with GSK will further strengthen PSN’s doggedness to promote and maintain high standard of pharmaceutical education in Nigeria, stressing that, “SCOPE facilitates a future grounded on professionalism through new frontiers in quality education updates.’’

    Speaking at the event, Managing Director GSK, Lekan Asuni stated that the MoU signing marks a milestone for not only the partners, PSN and GSK, but also for the pharmaceutical industry as a whole.

    “We consider this education partnership a great opportunity for us at GSK to fulfil our mission of improving the quality of human life.  Through this innovative programme, we aim to enhance the knowledge of Nigerian pharmacists and in turn, positively impact the lives of patients in Nigeria. The online platform was chosen to implement the modules because it’s more cost-effective than face-to-face trainings with a wider reach as pharmacists in hard to reach areas can benefit. Access to quality education will indeed build credibility in the pharmaceutical industry,” he said.

    Among key opinion leaders in attendance were Director of Pharmacy, General Hospital, Ajeromi; Mrs. Awofuwa, Chief Executive Officer Health Plus, Mrs. Bukky George, Mrs Dorcas Omeire of University of Lagos Medical Centre, Director of Pharmacy, Central Bank of Nigeria Staff Clinic, Mrs. Nmadu; Deputy Director of Pharmacy, Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idi-Araba Mrs Bolanle Adekoya, Director of Pharmacy, Health Service Commission Mr Salami and host of other dignitaries.

  • 78 pharmacists take oath of practice

    78 pharmacists take oath of practice

    The Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), last week, presented 78 graduates of Pharmacy before Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) for induction and oath taking. The PCN Registrar, Mr Elijah Muhammed, administered the oath on the graduands in a ceremony held on the Sagamu campus of the institution.

    Halimah Badmus emerged best graduating student, having graduated with highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Saburi Adesanya, led top management staff to the event, including Deputy VC, Prof Sule Odu and Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof Mbang Oyewo. Also, the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Health, Dr Daisi Odeniyi, and Pharm. Ibukun Oyeloninu, attended the event.

    Halimah, who graduated as the best student in pharmaceutics and pharmacy technology, was presented with a plaque and N50,000 cheque. Others, who had the best results in their departments, were also honoured. They are Oyinlade Odujoko (Pharmacognosy), Yewande Adebanjo (Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy) and Latifat Edalere (Pharmaceutical Microbiology).

    While describing the faculty as one of the best pharmacy schools, Prof Oyewo praised the VC for his support, describing him as an agent of change. She advised the gradaunds to be humble and adhere to the ethics of the profession.

    Halimah attributed her success to God, saying the road to her success was not smooth. “There were challenges and there were times I asked why I chose to study Pharmacy. I thank God that I am able to surmount the challenges and graduate as best students.”

    Mr Olawale Badmus, a parent, said her daughter had been showing a trait of brilliance since her primary school. Badmus said he was not surprised Halimah graduated as the best student of the faculty.

    He said: “I am not surprised by my daughter’s feat. In fact, we do call her first lady, because of her trait of brilliance since primary school. I remember we wanted her to study Medicine but she did not subscribe to that because she did not like to see blood.”

  • Pharmacists okay national drug guidelines

    Pharmacists okay national drug guidelines

    THE Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has allayed the fear of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of the Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) on the new national drug distribution guidelines agreed on by pharmaceutical experts and approved by the Federal Government.

    Its National Secretary, Adeoye Afuye, said yesterday that the greatest fear of any human globally “is the fear of change” and asserted that the guidelines would bring sanity to the nation’s “chaotic drug distribution channels”.

    He noted that the ACPN, as an important stakeholder in the pharmaceutical health care delivery system”, deemed it fit to educate the public and other critical members of the pharmaceutical professions on the issue.

    The guidelines, he explained, were formulated by the Federal Government through a committee comprising all stakeholders in the pharmaceutical section with PMG-MAN inclusive.

    Afuye added that members of the committee included experts from the Federal Ministry of Health, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), World Health Organisation (WHO), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), and Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN).

    Others were National agency for food, Drug, Administration and control (NAFDAC), ACPN and PMG-MAN.

    He said after thorough deliberation, the guideline was produced and the implementation date was fixed for July 2014 and was later shifted to July 1, 2015.

    Afuye noted that it was agreed that the guidelines be implemented by the Federal Government as contained in the policy document and that any short-comings or challenges would be addressed as it occurs.

    “It was a big surprise to hear from one of the originator of the document after two years of suspended implementation that the document, if implemented, would hand over the pharmaceutical industry to cartels and syndicates,” ACPN official said.

  • NHIS now compromised, say pharmacists

    NHIS now compromised, say pharmacists

    The Association of Community Pharmacist of Nigeria (ACPN) is urging the Federal Government to make the National Health Insurance Scheme accord respect to all professional bodies in the sector.

    Its president, Dr Alkali Albert Kelong called on NHIS to direct the health management organisations (HMOs) to pay other professionals after verifying their claims on services they have rendered.

    Kelong, who spoke in Lagos, lamented that only doctors presently handle the distribution of money given by the NHIS for  distribution to other professionals within the health chain, adding that this negates the provision of the scheme, and as such, it is discriminatory and unacceptable.

    “Things can work here the same way they work in saner climes but we always bring sentiments into this thing. We are advocating for maintenance in status quo; that all professional within the healthcare delivery system must be adequately catered for in the NHIS. It is when you have respective professionals carrying out their responsibility that you have a better outcome in therapy. One person cannot claim to know everything. In the end, it is the patience that eventually pays for it,” Kelong added.

    Kelong advocated a more enforced regulation to bring sanity into the healthcare system.

    He said the NHIS law is clear on how professionals within the healthcare system should be adequately catered for but the scenario has since changed.

    “We want the insurance scheme to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. You cannot be a judge in your own case, “said Kelong.

    He said: “Prescription comes out of hospitals to pharmacists. But in Nigeria we want a one stop shop where somebody sits and gets all the profit. That is why you see us crying because we want prescriptions to come from us.

    “Go to some of the West African countries, their regulations is more effective than ours. Ironically, we have all the resources and personnel so we won’t normally have had anybody going for treatment abroad. But in a situation where things are not being done rightly under the pretext of Nigerian situation is not acceptable.”

  • GSK empowers pharmacists

    GSK empowers pharmacists

    GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc has demonstrated its strong resolve to fight product counterfeiting and help Nigerians especially at the grassroots with access to original products.

    Speaking at the training programme organised annually in partnership with GSK and  the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN) to train and improve the practice of Patent Medicine Dealers and Patent Medicine Sellers in Nigeria, the Managing Director, GSK Consumer Nigeria Plc, Mr. Dayanand Thandalam Sriram, said the reason for the programme is to engage with the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria and Lagos State Medicine Dealers Association because they are the ones who interact with the consumers every day.

    According to him, there is a need to constantly get feedback from these Patent medicine dealers and sellers on what is working and the things that require further improvement.

    All GSK products, GSK boss stressed, are backed by research and science hence the more they understand this science the better they can attend to consumer needs adequately.

    Also speaking at the event, President, Lagos State Medicine Dealers Association (LSMDA), Chief Kewiwson Emeka Opara, said it was disheartening to note that people abuse pain-killers and other over the counter drugs.

    “Most people venture into medicine vending just for the profit with no consideration for people’s health. Nigerians don’t care about the risk of consuming counterfeit products. Most times, they don’t care about the harmful or side effects it may have on the patients.”

    According to the Marketing Manager, Wellness, GSK, Mr. Ogbemi Kesiena, “GSK in partnership with the PCN and LSMDA aims to add value to the practice of the Patent Medicine Sellers and vendors in different zones across Nigeria and to also educate them on drugs and medications so that they fully understand the science behind the drugs they administer to consumers.”

  • Pharmacists tackle drugs counterfeiting

    Stakeholders are searching for ways to end anti-counterfeiting of drugs in Nigeria.

    They met at the Bi-monthly meeting of the Association of Industrial  Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) in Lagos, with the theme: Pharmaceutical anti-counterfeiting Restrategising the war, to plan.

    A retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Mr Alex Okeke, who was guest speaker, said anti-counterfeiting war was still raging, but that time would tell if it would ever be won because “regulatory and enforcement are inadequate”.

    Pharmaceutical counterfeiting, he said, has reached a new level, which makes it necessary for a new war to be waged.

    Besides, efforts should be made to bring the menace to a manageable level as it presently impacts on other facets of life.

    He said a serious attempt was made 30 years ago to put the problem in check but it failed.

    The retired AIG said there was another futile pursuit during the Babangida administration when a case of poisoning was reported.

    The exercise, he said, was hampered as the then Minister of Health, Prof Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, could not come up with the fund required to fight the problem as the health budget was too low and the ministry under-funded.

    “We also discovered there was a lot of undercurrent. It was shortly after that the decree, which established the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was promulgated and Prof Osuide was appointed the Director-General,” he said.

    He said lack of capacity development and encouragement as painted by a serving official of the agency, was also responsible for the lackluster performance of NAFDAC.

    “The agencies in-charge of enforcement and regulation should be encouraged, motivated and well-supervised to do more,” he recommended.

    Okeke said the critical message on counterfeiting fight should be hinged on safety, adding that this would make people handle the issue with more seriousness.

    “Counterfeiting, which is less than one percent of the actual market value in Nigeria, has become a scourge to the business and practice of pharmacy. It is 10 percent in emerging economy and 30 percent in developing world,” he said.

    Drug barons, he said, have abandoned their narcotic and hard drug business to join the faking business because it is lucrative with very little danger involved, adding: “The business is estimated at $200 billion.”

    He identified poor funding of the health system, poorly regulatory system and ineffective distribution channel as factors aiding drug counterfeiting.

    Counterfeiting, he said, has serious implications on public health because patients are denied quality medications.

    “Also, most people who take fake medicines may experience treatment failure, increased hospital admission, prolonged hospital admission and development of resistance,” he said.

    He enjoined stakeholders to collaborate with NAFDAC, adding that there have been too much of division among key players in the fight to rid the country of fake drugs.

    Managing Director, Neimeth Pharmaceuticals, Mr Emma Ekunu urged more collaboration.

    He said: “We can get information with cleverness from sources to uncover who imported what. We should have a plan. By strategising, we would find a new way to combat the problem. If we collaborate the menace would be brought to a manageable level. Counterfeiters only fake products that are doing well. But they can be deterred.”

    He identified infidelity as another thing killing the industry, adding that sales representatives are making money at the expense of the drug manufacturers.

    He said the entry barriers to gaining access into the pharmaceutical industry must be raised to maintain standards. This will whittle down small players if the bar is raised, he added.

    He said the big question, which must be answered by key players is: “Are they winning the war?”

  • Pharmacists Council delists two members

    Pharmacists Council delists two members

    The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) Disciplinary Tribunal has deregistered Ogbonnaya Emmanuel Nduka and Clifford Osonduagwuike Ogbonna for alleged misconduct.

    They were among the four arraigned before the tribunal at the council’s headquarters, in Idu, Abuja. Nduka will not practise for one year; Ogbonna, two.

    The seven-man tribunal was  headed by Bruno Nwankwo.  Members were President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Olumide Akintayo; a representative from the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. G.M.O. Chukwumah; Uche Apakama; Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Prof. Ibrahim Iliya; Director, Pharmaceutical Services, Nigeria Army Medical Corps/School, Col. Najeem Abdulrahim and Isa Gusau of the Ministry of Health, Gusau, Zamfara State.

    PSN Registrar, Elijah Mohammed was the secretary;Thompson Olatigbe, a lawyer, was the assessor.

    According to Mohammed, Nduka of No 2 Similolu Close,off Sura Mogaji Street, Ilupeju Estate, Lagos was arraigned on a one-count charge of using Ikenna Ezeronye’s licence to register Phoster Pharmacare Limited last November, a professional misconduct punishable under the PCN Act and PCN’s Code of Ethics for Pharmacists.

    Ogbonna of Oso-Life Pharma Clinic of No. 161, Bode Road, Jattu-Auchi, Edo State, the Registrar said, was arraigned on a four-count charge of operating an unregistered premises  – OSO-LIFE PHARMA Clinic at No161, Bode Road, Jattu-Auchi, Edo State as a pharmacy.

    The registrar said Ogonna operated a clinic in an unregistered pharmacy shop, which is a misconduct, contrary to and punishable under the PCN Act and PCN’s Code of Ethics for Pharmacists, operated a pharmacy, Oso-Life Pharma Clinic at No. 161, Bode Road, Jattu-Auchi, Edo State without a superintendent pharmacist, and breaking PCN’s seal on the main entrance of Oso-Life Pharma Clinic.

    The third respondent, Linus Joseph of Duru Pharmacy 21, New Road Sabon Gari, Kano, in February 2011 in Asaba, Delta State, the council alleged, presented the licence of Dunah Anthone, to register for Holy King Pharmacy Limited in Asaba.

    The fourth respondent, Iyekekpolor Esosa of No 18, 2nd Cemetery Lane, Uzebu Quarters, Benin City, Edo State in February 2013 in Benin City, Edo State was alleged to have presented to PCN false documents to register service Pharmaceutical Company Limited at No. 43 Ehikpen Street, Benin city.

    The respondents pleaded not guilty.The tribunal fixed its sitting for between yesterday and tomorrow. Its chairman said the punishment would deter others.

    The tribunal ordered the reinstatement of Sunday Awofisayo whose name  was struck off PCN Register  in 2004 after serving the punishment.

  • DELSU graduates 59 pharmacists

    DELSU graduates 59 pharmacists

    No fewer than 59 graduates of pharmacy at the Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka, on Friday, were inducted into the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN). They took the oath administered by the Registrar to the council, Mr N.A. Muhammed, represented by Dr. Anthony Idoko.

    The ceremony was held in the 1,000-capacity auditorium in Site III of the institution. It was attended by dignitaries, including Commissioner for Higher Education, Mr. Charles Emetulu, Mr Paul Enebeli, former PCN chairman and a member of the board of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), who was the guest speaker.

    The graduates beamed with smiles in their blue academic gowns as they moved into the auditorium with their family members.

    While welcoming guests, the Dean of the faculty, Prof. A.O. Onyekweli said the faculty had become a model given its achievements in its short years of establishment. He attributed the success to good leadership by the management and the state government.

    In his lecture titled: Changing role of the pharmacist: Thinking outside the box, Enebeli advised the graduands to think about how they can improve on the knowledge they acquired in school and divest it to make lives of the people better and positively affect the rating of the profession.

    In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Victor Peretomode, thanked the government for its consistent support to elevate the school in knowledge and facilities.

    The VC offered an automatic employment to the best graduating student, Uche Nwankwo, who got his appointment letter at the event to the admiration of guests and his colleagues.

    In excitement, Uche thanked the VC for the gesture, promising to strive for excellence. He thanked his colleagues for making him become a better person and appreciated the management for solving some of the challenges they faced before graduation.

  • Pharmacists hold first education summit

    Pharmacists are gathered at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) for the maiden edition of the Pharmacy Education Summit.

    The three-day event organised by the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAP), an organ of Pharmacy in Nigeria, will focus on enhancing training of pharmacy students at undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as the practice of professionals.

    Billed as keynote speakers at the event are Dr. Teresa Pounds from Atlanta, USA and Dr. Bugewa Apampa, from Sussex, United Kingdom (UK).

    Other facilitators for the event are: Prof. Fola Tayo, General Secretary of the Academy; Azubike Okwor, immediate past president of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN); Elijah Mohammed, Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN); Prof. Chinedum Babalola, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan (UI); Prof. Augustine Okhamafe, University of Benin; Dr Ogori Taylor of World Health Organisation (WHO); Ngozi Chu-Madu, Former Head, Department of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH); and Prof. G. Awosanya, Provost, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM).

    Throwing light on the significance of the summit at a briefing, the NAP President, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, represented by the Vice President, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, said: “The summit will carry out situation analysis, identify gaps and proffer solutions towards a better Pharmacy education and practice in Nigeria.”

    He added that better training of pharmacists would contribute to the development of the healthcare sector.

    “The growth of the practice of pharmacy has led to a need for modification of the training and educational requirements of pharmacists. Advanced training prepares pharmacists to assume patient care roles within the healthcare team to meet the increasing demands of healthcare delivery,” he said.

    Undergraduate and graduate students, pharmacy teachers, practitioners, and representatives of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN), the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) and others are expected at the event.