The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has urged collaboration of specialised branches of the career to strengthen pharmacy observe within the nation.
Speaking forward of the society’s 99th Annual National Conference scheduled to carry from November 1st – seventh, 2026 on the International Conference Centre, Awka, Anambra State, PSN President, Pharm. Ayuba Ibrahim Tanko, famous that strengthening pharmacy observe within the nation would require superior observe, scientific collaboration, residency coaching, schooling, and the contributions of analysis pharmacists in pharmacotherapy, treatment security, pharmaceutical preparation and the suitable use of medicines.
He mentioned that translation of such skilled experience will result in stronger patient-care providers, acceptable competency growth, structured practice-based coaching and efficient collaboration with different healthcare professionals.
Tanko recognised the existence of the inspiration on which the initiatives might be achieved. According to him, these embody the “recognition of the Consultant Pharmacist cadre which creates a possibility to make clear superior observe tasks.’’
He additionally recognized the PSN –West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) collaboration which gives alternatives for pharmacists to contribute to multidisciplinary diet care and specialised pharmaceutical providers; in addition to the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) – Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) International Pharmacy Practice Residency Programme (IPPR)) which gives sensible foundation for strengthening supervised postgraduate coaching, whereas schooling, mentorship and analysis can assist growth throughout all these areas.
Bringing these initiatives into a standard strategic dialogue, Tanko posited, “may help align skilled priorities with out merging them right into a single programme or disregarding their current governance preparations.’’
He defined that the Consultant Pharmacist cadre has been recognised inside the Federal and State public-service scheme of service. According to him, constant implementation requires larger readability relating to the function, competencies, tasks, skilled growth expectations and accountability of Consultant Pharmacists.
‘’A standardised framework may assist extra constant appointments, enhance workforce planning and strengthen the mixing of superior pharmacists into multidisciplinary scientific groups.’’ Adding that “defining the function, scope of tasks, reporting relationships and anticipated contribution to affected person care and healthcare providers’’ ought to be given due consideration.
He careworn the significance of ‘’establishing a competency and qualification framework masking superior scientific observe, management, schooling, analysis and repair growth. Clarifying contributions to advanced medication-related selections, therapeutic optimisation, treatment security and coordinated affected person care, and defining tasks for scientific service growth, mentorship, skilled schooling, high quality enchancment and efficiency analysis.’’
Tanko suggested mentioned that the framework ought to draw on related worldwide fashions whereas reflecting Nigeria’s healthcare system, regulatory surroundings and workforce wants saying, “any proposed scientific authority or prescribing tasks should stay in step with relevant Nigerian legal guidelines and laws.’’
Explaining the PSN–WASPEN collaboration and the rising observe alternatives for pharmacists within the nation, he mentioned the initiative gives a possibility to strengthen multidisciplinary diet care and establish acceptable roles for pharmacists in scientific diet and specialised pharmaceutical providers.
Tanko recognized areas that supply specific alternatives for skilled growth and repair enchancment together with figuring out and managing medication-related issues which will have an effect on dietary standing, therapy response and restoration, and supporting the secure use of medicines in sufferers receiving enteral or parenteral diet, together with compatibility, administration and monitoring issues, contributing diet assist protocols, treatment security methods, scientific monitoring and high quality enchancment.
He additionally highlighted sterile compounding and specialised pharmaceutical providers which the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) is concerned in. According to him, PSN in collaboration with related companions has superior initiatives to strengthen native pharmaceutical compounding and manufacturing, starting with non-sterile preparations. Tanko additionally mentioned that the WASPEN – Pharmaceutical trade collaboration represents the second section of this broader compounding initiative, specializing in sterile compounding and specialised pharmaceutical providers, significantly the secure preparation of parenteral diet.
The PSN president listed the advantages to the Nigerian well being system together with coaching and competency growth in aseptic method, sterile compounding and clear room observe, creating and implementing high quality methods, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and risk-management processes.
It would even be supporting the secure preparation of parenteral diet in collaboration with the broader diet assist staff, exploring centralised admixture providers the place possible, appropriately ruled and sustainable, in addition to selling technical schooling, scientific attachments, analysis and the suitable introduction of compounding applied sciences.
The collaboration, he added, also can assist joint workshops, webinars, conferences, mentorship and scientific attachments. Any new service ought to be assessed towards native wants, regulatory necessities, staffing, infrastructure and sustainable financing.
On the International Pharmacy Practice Residency Programme (IPPR), he defined that it was launched at Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, in May 2022 by way of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), in collaboration with DELSUTH and with engagement involving the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). The programme, he mentioned, gives a possibility to strengthen the practice-based part of postgraduate pharmacy coaching by connecting theoretical studying with supervised scientific expertise. Its growth additionally gives classes for residency programme management, preceptor preparation, competency evaluation and repair enchancment.
The IPPR, he additional defined, would give attention to strengthening studying goals, competency evaluation and structured scientific experiences., supporting preceptor growth, mentorship and constant resident suggestions, and integrating multidisciplinary affected person care, treatment security, high quality enchancment and analysis.
“The IPPR ought to complement current WAPCP postgraduate coaching and residency pathways fairly than be introduced as proof that conventional coaching lacks sensible worth. Decisions about growth ought to be guided by documented expertise, programme readiness, accessible preceptors, service capability and relevant accreditation necessities. The DELSUTH programme is underneath ASHP assessment following an accreditation survey, with a call anticipated by March 2027,’’ he mentioned.
Tanko mentioned, “to advance this initiative, inputs had been obtained from related stakeholders, together with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, PCN, PSN, WASPEN, WAPCP, the Association of Consultant Pharmacists, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), healthcare establishments and tutorial companions. Adding {that a} determination to establish which areas require quick consideration and which want additional session or technical growth stays salient in view of the targets and goals of the initiative.’’
