Pharmacists operating in Akwa Ibom state have attributed rising cost of medical consumables to the nation’s over dependence on importation of medicines and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) from India and China though Nigeria has capacity to produce them .
In a communique issued at the end of the 3rd Annual Scientific Conference held in Uyo last weekend, the pharmacists observed that they were not represented on Akwa Ibom state Health Insurance Agency Board constituted by the state government considering
the “pivotal role of pharmaceutical services in healthcare, proven expertise of pharmacist in Health economics/Pharmacoeconomic and a groundswell of research that identifies cost of medications as a significant component of catastrophic health expenditure.”
The communique signed by the Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) Pharmacist Tony Anderson and made available to Journalists in Uyo on Sunday decried the high cost of medications occasioned by a depressed economy and worsened by the rising cost of energy; leading to increase in the operating costs of pharmaceutical businesses.
The Association further observed that above economic factors have resulted in the closure of some multinational pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria.
The chairman listed as companies as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the collapse of local manufacturers, such as Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company in Onna, Akwa Ibom State and threats to the sustainability of community pharmacies.”
The Conference therefore urged the Akwa Ibom State government to adopt a sustainable model for local pharmaceutical manufacturing by expanding the ongoing Ibom-LED Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme to support community pharmacies who are willing to venture into the production of pharmaceuticals and healthcare consumables.
“This will leverage on the existing business acumen of community pharmacies in business management, distribution, market penetration and extemporaneous production of pharmaceuticals.”
The pharmacists “observed that at a misery index of 85%, the Nigerian economy is depressed and may lead to increase in drug smuggling and counterfeiting.”
Accordingly, they called for the authentication of medicines, traceability, tamper-proof packaging, quality control, secure transportation, storage and monitoring, to ensure medicine security.
The communique reads in parts :
“Conference therefore called on the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno to consider the re-activation and funding of the Akwa Ibom State Counterfeit and Fake Drug Monitoring Committee as a public health emergency.”
They mentioned the role played by Akwa Ibom State Community Pharmacists in providing primary healthcare services in the State to include vaccination, family planning, health checks, health education and promotion, mental health services, drug information services and point of care testing.
They recalled the participation of community pharmacists during COVID-19 vaccination exercise, which assisted in ramping up COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the State.
“Community Pharmacies have also played a tremendous role in curbing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the State”.
“We expressed commitment in partnering with the government in tackling the menace of drug abuse among youths.
“The Anti-Drug Abuse School Competition (ADASC), organized by the Association of Community Pharmacists in Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, is one of the innovative ways the Association has developed to nip drug abuse in the bud and give back to our communities.”
“We called on the Akwa Ibom State government, in line with her ARISE AGENDA, to support the ongoing public health awareness campaign of the Association, aimed at raising the health consciousness of Akwa Ibom residents by discussing vital health topics weekly across various electronic media.” He said .
