Enhancing Access to Affordable Medicine

The Federal Government and state governments have been urged to provide stronger structural and financial support for community pharmacists to enable them subsidise essential medicines and reduce the cost of healthcare for millions of Nigerians. The call was made at the 45th Annual National Scientific Conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), held from July 27 to August 1, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, described community pharmacists as critical frontline healthcare professionals capable of playing a decisive role in addressing medicine affordability and accessibility. He highlighted recent interventions by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including the Executive Order suspending import duties and Value Added Tax (VAT) on pharmaceutical raw materials and medical equipment to stimulate local manufacturing.

Community pharmacists are critical frontline healthcare professionals capable of playing a decisive role in addressing medicine affordability and accessibility, particularly among vulnerable Nigerians.

— Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Federal Government of Nigeria

Promoting Public-Private Partnerships

Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, called for stronger collaboration between state governments and community pharmacists, describing these facilities as resilient frontline healthcare centres. Represented by the Niger State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Muhammad Bagana, the governor advocated for the integration of community pharmacies into state health insurance schemes and primary healthcare networks.

Such partnerships, Bago argued, could provide a practical pathway to subsidising essential medicines and easing the financial burden on vulnerable families. The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, echoed these sentiments, noting that community pharmacists are often the first point of contact for millions of Nigerians seeking medical assistance.

Proactive public-private partnerships with community pharmacists could strengthen drug supply chains, reduce retail medicine costs and expand access to essential healthcare services.

— Umaru Bago, Governor, Niger State

Combating Counterfeit Drugs and Brain Drain

Beyond the conference deliberations, the ACPN drew attention to pressing challenges such as persistent drug abuse and the alarming brain drain within the profession. The association disclosed that more than 9,500 pharmacists have left Nigeria in recent years, warning that this loss of skilled professionals poses a serious threat to patient safety and effective healthcare delivery.

To address safety concerns, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) urged pharmacists to deploy technology more aggressively. Representing the Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Rametu Momodu encouraged the use of platforms like the Med Safety App and Scan2Verify technology to transform community pharmacies into vital surveillance posts in Nigeria's medicine-safety system.

Every community pharmacy could serve as a vital surveillance post in Nigeria's medicine-safety system.

— Dr. Rametu Momodu, Representative of the Director-General, NAFDAC

Structural Reforms for National Health Security

The conference submitted three major structural proposals to the Federal Government aimed at strengthening medicine security. These include an amendment to the Fake Drug Act to introduce a mandatory 20-year prison sentence for first-time offenders and life imprisonment for repeat dealers in counterfeit medicines. Additionally, the ACPN proposed the establishment of a National Drug Management Agency to coordinate centralized pool procurement and manage essential medicine allocations.

The event culminated in the election of a new National Executive Council for the 2026/2027 administration. Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma emerged as the National Chairman, pledging to lead a transformative administration focused on advancing the role of community pharmacists. He urged the Federal Government to act swiftly on conference resolutions to revitalise the health sector and bring world-class healthcare closer to Nigerians.

• Mandatory 20-year prison sentence for counterfeit drug offenders
• Establishment of a National Drug Management Agency
• Creation of a National Postgraduate College of Pharmacy
• Integration of pharmacies into primary healthcare networks