ACPN calls for inclusion of community pharmacies as primary healthcare centres

Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has called for the inclusion of community pharmacies as primary healthcare centres in Nigeria, saying such would propel improved quality of life.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the 41st annual national scientific conference of the association, which came under the theme ‘Never Waste Crisis: Community Pharmacists Learning for Future Preparedness,’ ACPN maintained that community pharmacists are well trained and equipped with great skills to champion a healthier nation.

The communiqué, which was jointly signed by Adewale Oladigbolu, newly elected national chairman of ACPN, and Ezeh Ambrose Sunday, national secretary ACPN made available to BusinessDay, implored government at all levels as well as the private sectors to utillise the depth of knowledge and skills of pharmacists in all key health programmes so as to ensure access to affordable and qualitative healthcare services.

The group in the communiqué informed government that the quality of every healthcare system was grounded in its PHC system as well as a credible drug distribution system and added that 62 percent to 75 percent of every healthcare cost has drugs at its heart.

The association also observed that the supply chain system for drugs distribution in Nigeria was faulty, adding, that ACPN had started a supply chain platform that interconnects all pharmaceutical entities in Nigeria.

“The premises to premises, or pharmacy to pharmacy (P2P) platform is a pharmaceutical ecosystem to make sure medicines ordering in Nigeria is from, and through PCN-registered facilities only. The P2P platform is now operational to strengthen the supply chain system, reduce the prevalence of fake medicines and reduce the scare concerns associated with our industry.

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“Thus, products available at community pharmacies will be those without untoward supply chain excursions.

“The ongoing national effort to revitalise the country’s PHC system would only be complete, with the community pharmacy component fully incorporated,’’ the communiqué stated.

The ACPN also expressed appreciation over the novel National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA 2022) law, saying it was designed to propel social health insurance through specific interventions including, capturing the roles of states in jump-starting the state Health Insurance Scheme.

To them, the new NHIA law ensures the implementation and utilisation of the Basic National Healthcare Provision Fund.

The group further noted that NHIA caters for the basic healthcare needs of the indigents and vulnerable groups which constitute about 40 percent of the population that is 70 to 80 million people.

The communiqué also claimed that the unfruitful health service delivery system informed the enactment of the new NHIA 2022 Act to facilitate access to efficacious, affordable and accessible Healthcare.

It also condemned the operations methods of the old NHIS claiming they deviate from the set objectives of social insurance.

Elaborating, the communiqué alleged that the old National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) digresses from the set goals, targets and objectives of a well-coordinated Social Health Insurance agenda.

The communiqué further claimed that the NHIS operation methods were the major reason for the unacceptable and disappointing coverage rate of less than five percent for over 15 years.

The ACPN therefore, hailed the Federal Government’s decision to scrap the old insurance scheme.

On the other hand the communiqué’ reckoned that the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) is responsible for ensuring the right policies with pragmatic and technical support are put in place.

“These services are made available, accessible and affordable to the population especially at community level,’’ the communiqué said.

It also commended the NPHCDA for reaching out to all pharmaceutical entities in the country for sensitisation at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 which it said was laudable as the pandemic provided an opportunity to involve Community Pharmacists in PHC service delivery.

“This led to a partnership with the ACPN for COVID-19 vaccination at community pharmacies, a partnership which is very strategic to achieving the goal of Primary Health Care development in Nigeria,” ACNP added.