The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, urged the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health to adjust the new National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, in order to halt the mass emigration of pharmacists from the country.
They insisted that unless the community pharmacists’ right place is protected in the new NHIA act, the assurance of the totality of care for Nigerians may become a mirage.
Speaking recently at the National Summit on Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria, organised by the ACPN in Lagos, the National Chairman of the association, Pharm. Wale Oladigbolu, noted that without the inclusion of community pharmacists in the services of a prescription under the National Health Insurance System, the health insurance will miss it and be on the verge of failing.
He also noted that community pharmacists are the closest to the people in terms of trained healthcare professionals, adding that they are ideally the heart of primary healthcare services wherever they are as the country currently has about 7000 community pharmacists.
Oladigbolu also disclosed that the aim of the summit was to assure the general public as well as fellow healthcare providers that the association has a great interest in universal health coverage as well as equal access to health for everybody, irrespective of the social and economic status of that person. As private providers, we want to partner with the government to make sure that this becomes a reality.
Also speaking at the event, graced by the leaders and representatives of all the interest groups of the PSN as well as ACPN Chairmen and Secretaries across the country, the PSN president, Prof Cyril Usifoh, said the summit was timely as it came at a time a decision has to be taken concerning meeting up with the Universal Health Coverage.
Also speaking, the duo of Dr Ibrahim Akinwunmi Mustafa, permanent secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, and Pharm. Stella Aribeana, director, of Food and Drugs, Federal Ministry of Health, noted that to achieve universal health coverage, collaboration is critical, adding that the agenda of the government is to improve health and it cannot be done in isolation hence the need for carrying other healthcare professionals along.
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