The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has called on the Federal Government to formally designate community pharmacies as Primary Health Care (PHC) centres across the country, in recognition of their pivotal role in healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
National Chairman of the Association, Pharm. Ambrose Ezeh, made the appeal during a press conference at the ACPN National Secretariat in Lagos as part of activities marking the 2025 World Pharmacists Day, celebrated under the theme “Think Health, Think Pharmacist.
Ezeh emphasized that community pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals in Nigeria, often serving as the first point of contact for patients.
He noted that pharmacists provide free consultations, medication guidance, and counseling on drug safety, side effects, and adherence, making them indispensable to the nation’s health system.
The ACPN Chairman outlined the contributions of pharmacists to public health, including their involvement in vaccination campaigns, health screenings, disease prevention and control initiatives, and advocacy for safer medication practices.
He further highlighted their expanding roles in digital health, telepharmacy for remote areas, and collaboration with other healthcare providers to improve patient outcomes and address disparities.
To further strengthen pharmacy practice in Nigeria, the ACPN launched the Pharmacy Forward: Performance, Collaboration, and Health Transformation initiative.
The programme is designed to standardize career progression ratings for community pharmacists, ensuring structured professional development, talent retention, and quality assurance in patient services.
Under the new career advancement framework, pharmacists will progress through five bands: Community Pharmacist, Senior Community Pharmacist, Community Pharmacist Specialist, Community Pharmacist Senior Specialist, and Community Pharmacist Consultant.
This structured pathway, Ezeh explained, will promote continuous improvement, foster innovation, and enhance collaboration within the sector.
“The benefits of this initiative will lead to improved health outcomes for Nigerians,” he stated, reaffirming ACPN’s commitment to repositioning community pharmacy practice as a cornerstone of primary healthcare.
The ACPN urged all pharmacists nationwide to seize the opportunity of World Pharmacists Day to amplify their impact on health systems, while calling on the Federal Government to integrate community pharmacies formally into the nation’s PHC framework for stronger, more resilient healthcare delivery.
Reporting by Niran Odufayo