Stakeholders in Lagos State’s pharmaceutical sector have called for sweeping reforms to strengthen hospital and administrative pharmacy systems, with a focus on improving safe and efficient drug delivery across public health facilities.
The call was made at a two-day summit organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Health for Heads of Pharmacy Units, where experts highlighted digitalisation, regulation, and workforce capacity as critical drivers of improved pharmaceutical care.
Representing the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Kemi Ogunyemi, Dr. Oluwatoni Adeyemi described the meeting as timely, noting that pharmacists play a central role in delivering patient-centred healthcare and improving outcomes across the state.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dayo Lajide, urged pharmacists to embrace continuous learning, professionalism, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, while stressing their critical role in patient counselling and combating antimicrobial resistance.
Ayotunde Adebayo of the University of Lagos said effective pharmacy administration depends on strong systems in human resources, finance, supply chains, and regulation, warning that weak structures could lead to drug shortages and patient harm.
Other stakeholders, including representatives from the Health Service Commission and Primary Health Care Board, emphasised the need for stronger supply chains, digital tools such as e-prescriptions, and better coordination to ensure access to safe and affordable medicines at all levels of care.
Participants agreed that sustained collaboration, innovation, and policy alignment are essential to reposition pharmaceutical services and enhance healthcare delivery in Lagos State.