Pharmacists in Lagos have called on both the Federal and Lagos State governments to overhaul Nigeria’s troubled drug distribution system and integrate pharmacy services into the country’s health insurance framework.
The appeal was made during the 2025 World Pharmacists Day celebrations in Lagos, where pharmacists warned that their continued exclusion from health policy planning jeopardizes public health and undermines Nigeria’s efforts toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Tolu Ajayi, Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), described the current drug distribution system as “unsafe” and “dangerous.” He criticized the government’s failure to implement the National Drug Distribution Guidelines, leaving Nigerians vulnerable to counterfeit and substandard medicines.
“No other healthcare professional is better trained and positioned to ensure the safety, authenticity, and quality of medicines than the pharmacist,” Ajayi emphasized, urging that pharmacists play a central role in Nigeria’s medicine supply chain.
Babayemi Oyekunle, Chairman of the Lagos State Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, echoed these concerns, accusing both the National Health Insurance Authority and the Lagos State Health Management Agency of excluding pharmacists from health insurance schemes. Oyekunle argued that any health insurance model that neglects pharmacists is flawed and undermines access to safe, affordable medicines.
“A health insurance system that fails to recognise and include pharmacists is not only incomplete but also puts at risk the health of those it aims to protect,” he said.
Lawrence Ekhator, the immediate past chairman of ACPN Lagos, emphasized the need for stronger media advocacy to correct misconceptions about the profession. He stressed that pharmacists are essential healthcare providers, not just dispensers of medications.
The 2025 World Pharmacists Day event, themed “Think Health, Think Pharmacist,” included a health walk, community outreach, media engagements, and capacity-building sessions. The event brought together community pharmacists, zonal coordinators, and other stakeholders across Lagos State.
Related topics:
