Pharmacists in Lagos have called on both the state and federal governments to urgently reform Nigeria’s drug distribution system, integrate pharmacy services into health insurance schemes, and accord pharmacists greater recognition within the healthcare sector.
The call was made during the 2025 World Pharmacists Day celebration in Lagos, themed “Think Health, Think Pharmacist.” The event, held at the PSN Secretariat in Ogudu, featured a health walk, community outreach, media engagements, and capacity-building sessions, all highlighting the vital role pharmacists play in healthcare delivery.
Pharm. Tolu Ajayi, Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Lagos Chapter, criticised the government’s failure to enforce the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG). He described the current system as “chaotic and unsafe,” warning that it leaves the country vulnerable to fake, substandard, and counterfeit medicines.
“No other professional is better placed to safeguard the safety, authenticity, and quality of medicines,” Ajayi said. “Pharmacists must be at the centre of drug supply and monitoring if we are serious about protecting public health.”
Similarly, Pharm. Babayemi Oyekunle, Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos, condemned the exclusion of pharmacists from national and state health insurance programmes. He argued that sidelining pharmacists weakens the profession and denies patients affordable access to quality medicines.
“A health insurance framework that excludes pharmacists is fundamentally flawed,” Oyekunle stated. “Pharmacies are often the first point of contact for patients. Ignoring this reality undermines the healthcare system.”
Immediate past ACPN Lagos Chairman, Pharm. Lawrence Ekhator, urged pharmacists to step up media advocacy to counter longstanding misconceptions about their role. He stressed that pharmacists remain indispensable to patient care and drug safety but are still under-recognised.
The Lagos ACPN warned that without urgent reforms in drug distribution, inclusion in health insurance, and proper representation in policymaking, Nigeria’s healthcare system will remain fragile and unable to meet the needs of its citizens.
This year’s World Pharmacists Day celebration drew broad participation from pharmacists, zonal coordinators, and stakeholders across Lagos, who collectively renewed calls for reform and recognition, affirming that pharmacists must no longer be sidelined in Nigeria’s healthcare journey.
