The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has urged collaboration of specialised branches of the occupation to strengthen pharmacy observe within the nation.
Speaking forward of the society’s 99th Annual National Conference scheduled to carry from November 1st – seventh, 2026 on the International Conference Centre, Awka, Anambra State, PSN President, Pharm. Ayuba Ibrahim Tanko, famous that strengthening pharmacy observe within the nation would require superior observe, medical collaboration, residency coaching, training, and the contributions of analysis pharmacists in pharmacotherapy, remedy security, pharmaceutical preparation and the suitable use of medicines.
He stated that translation of such skilled experience will result in stronger patient-care companies, acceptable competency growth, structured practice-based coaching and efficient collaboration with different healthcare professionals.
Tanko recognised the existence of the inspiration on which the initiatives will be achieved. According to him, these embody the “recognition of the Consultant Pharmacist cadre which creates a possibility to make clear superior observe obligations.’’
He additionally recognized the PSN –West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) collaboration which gives alternatives for pharmacists to contribute to multidisciplinary diet care and specialised pharmaceutical companies; in addition to the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) – Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) International Pharmacy Practice Residency Programme (IPPR)) which gives sensible foundation for strengthening supervised postgraduate coaching, whereas training, mentorship and analysis can help growth throughout all these areas.
Bringing these initiatives into a standard strategic dialogue, Tanko posited, “might help align skilled priorities with out merging them right into a single programme or disregarding their present governance preparations.’’
He defined that the Consultant Pharmacist cadre has been recognised inside the Federal and State public-service scheme of service. According to him, constant implementation requires larger readability relating to the function, competencies, obligations, skilled growth expectations and accountability of Consultant Pharmacists.
‘’A standardised framework may help extra constant appointments, enhance workforce planning and strengthen the combination of superior pharmacists into multidisciplinary medical groups.’’ Adding that “defining the function, scope of obligations, reporting relationships and anticipated contribution to affected person care and healthcare companies’’ needs to be given due consideration.
He harassed the significance of ‘’establishing a competency and qualification framework overlaying superior medical observe, management, training, analysis and repair growth. Clarifying contributions to advanced medication-related choices, therapeutic optimisation, remedy security and coordinated affected person care, and defining obligations for medical service growth, mentorship, skilled training, high quality enchancment and efficiency analysis.’’
Tanko suggested stated that the framework ought to draw on related worldwide fashions whereas reflecting Nigeria’s healthcare system, regulatory setting and workforce wants saying, “any proposed medical authority or prescribing obligations should stay per relevant Nigerian legal guidelines and rules.’’
Explaining the PSN–WASPEN collaboration and the rising observe alternatives for pharmacists within the nation, he stated the initiative gives a possibility to strengthen multidisciplinary diet care and determine acceptable roles for pharmacists in medical diet and specialised pharmaceutical companies.
Tanko recognized areas that supply explicit alternatives for skilled growth and repair enchancment together with figuring out and managing medication-related issues that will have an effect on dietary standing, therapy response and restoration, and supporting the secure use of medicines in sufferers receiving enteral or parenteral diet, together with compatibility, administration and monitoring concerns, contributing diet help protocols, remedy security methods, medical monitoring and high quality enchancment.
He additionally highlighted sterile compounding and specialised pharmaceutical companies which the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) is concerned in. According to him, PSN in collaboration with related companions has superior initiatives to strengthen native pharmaceutical compounding and manufacturing, starting with non-sterile preparations. Tanko additionally stated that the WASPEN – Pharmaceutical trade collaboration represents the second section of this broader compounding initiative, specializing in sterile compounding and specialised pharmaceutical companies, notably the secure preparation of parenteral diet.
The PSN president listed the advantages to the Nigerian well being system together with coaching and competency growth in aseptic approach, sterile compounding and clear room observe, growing and implementing high quality methods, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and risk-management processes.
It would even be supporting the secure preparation of parenteral diet in collaboration with the broader diet help staff, exploring centralised admixture companies the place possible, appropriately ruled and sustainable, in addition to selling technical training, medical attachments, analysis and the suitable introduction of compounding applied sciences.
The collaboration, he added, also can help joint workshops, webinars, conferences, mentorship and medical attachments. Any new service needs to be assessed in opposition to native wants, regulatory necessities, staffing, infrastructure and sustainable financing.
On the International Pharmacy Practice Residency Programme (IPPR), he defined that it was launched at Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, in May 2022 via the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), in collaboration with DELSUTH and with engagement involving the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). The programme, he stated, gives a possibility to strengthen the practice-based element of postgraduate pharmacy coaching by connecting theoretical studying with supervised medical expertise. Its growth additionally gives classes for residency programme management, preceptor preparation, competency evaluation and repair enchancment.
The IPPR, he additional defined, would deal with strengthening studying aims, competency evaluation and structured medical experiences., supporting preceptor growth, mentorship and constant resident suggestions, and integrating multidisciplinary affected person care, remedy security, high quality enchancment and analysis.
“The IPPR ought to complement present WAPCP postgraduate coaching and residency pathways somewhat than be offered as proof that conventional coaching lacks sensible worth. Decisions about growth needs to be guided by documented expertise, programme readiness, accessible preceptors, service capability and relevant accreditation necessities. The DELSUTH programme is below ASHP overview following an accreditation survey, with a call anticipated by March 2027,’’ he stated.
Tanko stated, “to advance this initiative, inputs had been obtained from related stakeholders, together with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, PCN, PSN, WASPEN, WAPCP, the Association of Consultant Pharmacists, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), healthcare establishments and tutorial companions. Adding {that a} determination to determine which areas require fast consideration and which want additional session or technical growth stays salient in view of the objectives and aims of the initiative.’’
