The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has called for stronger collaboration between the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to intensify the fight against counterfeit and substandard medicines across the country.
Senator Akume made the call in Abuja while receiving the leadership of the ACPN, led by its National Chairman, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, during a courtesy visit.
He described community pharmacists as critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s healthcare system, noting that their presence in communities places them in a strategic position to help detect and prevent the circulation of fake medicines before they reach unsuspecting members of the public.
According to the SGF, the proliferation of counterfeit drugs remains a major threat to public health and requires sustained collaboration among regulators, healthcare professionals, manufacturers and other stakeholders.
He urged the association to strengthen its working relationship with NAFDAC to support ongoing efforts aimed at sanitising Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
“The menace of fake drugs continues to pose a serious danger to the health and well-being of Nigerians. You must join hands with NAFDAC in checking this menace because it is a responsibility that demands the support of all of us. While NAFDAC is doing a great deal, it also requires the active collaboration of professional bodies such as the ACPN,” Akume said.
The SGF’s remarks come amid renewed enforcement efforts by NAFDAC to dismantle illegal drug markets and curb the distribution of counterfeit medicines across the country.
Senator Akume also encouraged Nigerian pharmacists to explore international partnerships that would strengthen local pharmaceutical manufacturing and improve the availability of quality medicines.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ongoing healthcare reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including efforts to improve access to quality healthcare services and expand training opportunities for healthcare professionals.
During the visit, the ACPN formally invited the SGF to the opening ceremony of its 45th Annual International Scientific Conference scheduled to hold in Abuja later this month.
Senator Akume accepted the invitation and described the conference theme as timely, given the challenges confronting Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
Earlier, ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, said the conference would provide a platform for policymakers, regulators, healthcare professionals and industry stakeholders to discuss issues affecting pharmacy practice and healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
He assured the Federal Government that community pharmacists remain committed to working with NAFDAC and other regulatory agencies to eliminate counterfeit medicines and improve access to safe and quality healthcare.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, called for stronger collaboration among healthcare professionals to improve patient care and support local pharmaceutical production.
He noted that pharmacy practice has evolved significantly beyond medicine dispensing and now plays an increasingly important role in research, manufacturing and other specialised areas of healthcare.
Reporting By Niran Odufayo