Bukola Adebayo
Pharmacists, acting under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to revive the ailing health sector and rehabilitate health facilities in the country.
The president of the PSN, Mr. Ahmed Yakasai, in a statement on Tuesday, stated that this would be the right time to tackle some of the underlying issues that compel Nigerians to seek medical treatment abroad.
He said,” We welcome President Muhammadu Buhari back to the country from his medical vacation abroad. We are delighted that he looks hale and hearty on his return, which is a testimony of the good care he has received and his determination to shake-off all vagaries of ill-health.
“However, recent development, with regard to the search for health interventions outside Nigeria, compels a need to continue to appraise the totality of the health system. There are challenges with the funding and the structure of health-inclined endeavours that also compel defective outcomes
“The health system must be revitalised in line with the progressive strides being recorded in the development of infrastructure in the road and rail construction segment.”
The PSN boss urged the President to immediately constitute the governing council of regulatory bodies in the sector, particularly that of the National Agency of Food and Drug Administration and Control, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development.
Yakasai said it was high time the President appointed a professional with a good knowledge and experience in pharmacy as the Director-General of NAFDAC to ensure that the good work laid down by a former head of the agency, late Prof.Dora Akinyuli, was improved upon.
“It is also apt to add that in a core regulatory agency like NAFDAC, only a pharmacist has a jurisdiction as a regulatory officer in all the core mandate areas of pharmacy, food and drugs.
“By virtue of Section 5 and 6 of PPA Cap 535 LFN 1990, only a pharmacist can be appointed a pharmaceutical inspector to regulate pharmacy practice, while by virtue of the Food and Drugs Act cap 150 LFN 1990 (as amended) only pharmacists can be appointed as Food and Drug Inspectors to fulfill the totality of the NAFDAC mandate,” he said.
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