The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has called on the Federal Government to integrate registered community pharmacists into the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), saying the move would significantly improve access to affordable healthcare and accelerate the country’s drive towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The association said community pharmacists remain the first point of contact for healthcare services for millions of Nigerians and should be fully incorporated into the national health insurance framework to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and improve access to quality medicines.
The call was made at a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the ACPN’s 45th Annual International Scientific Conference, scheduled to hold from July to August, 2026.
Addressing journalists on the conference themed “Unity 2026: From Local Pharmacy Practice to Global Impact – Managing Complex Political Systems,” the ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, said integrating community pharmacies into the NHIA would reduce patients’ out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, bring healthcare services closer to communities and ease pressure on hospitals.
According to him, community pharmacies are strategically located across the country, with a large percentage of Nigerians seeking healthcare services from them before visiting hospitals.
Ezeh, however, stressed that any integration into the NHIA should be implemented through a transparent and equitable reimbursement system in line with the provisions of the NHIA Act to ensure sustainability and fairness among healthcare providers.
He also advocated policy reforms to strengthen public-private partnerships and create a more enabling environment for community pharmacy practice, noting that pharmacists now play broader roles in medication therapy management, disease prevention and public health interventions beyond dispensing medicines.
The ACPN chairman warned Nigerians against purchasing medicines from unlicensed vendors, describing them as major contributors to the circulation of counterfeit and substandard drugs. He urged the public to obtain medicines only from registered pharmacies supervised by licensed pharmacists.
He further argued that leveraging the existing network of community pharmacies would enable the government to expand quality healthcare services more rapidly than investing heavily in new health facilities.
Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Pharm. Chidi Dozie, said preparations had been concluded for the conference, which is expected to attract policymakers, healthcare professionals, regulators, legislators, pharmaceutical industry leaders and international experts to discuss healthcare reforms, pharmaceutical innovation, medicine security and leadership in the health sector.
He said the conference would feature scientific sessions, exhibitions, policy dialogues and networking opportunities aimed at generating practical recommendations for strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The association also announced plans to organise free health outreach programmes across the Federal Capital Territory during the conference, including medical screenings, hepatitis awareness campaigns, vaccination exercises and other preventive healthcare services.
ACPN expressed optimism that deliberations at the conference would produce policy recommendations to strengthen pharmaceutical practice, improve access to quality healthcare and reinforce the role of community pharmacists in achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria.
Reporting By Niran Odufayo