Pharmacists push for better healthcare, wholesale centre in Lagos

By Ayo Azeez

Lagos State pharmacists, under the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), have urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to approve the Consultant Pharmacists Cadre, emphasizing its critical role in enhancing patient care and healthcare outcomes.

This appeal comes on the heels of the 2024 World Pharmacists Day, celebrated on September 25, which recognizes pharmacists’ vital contributions to global health.

Speaking at the event on Wednesday, PSN Lagos state chairman, Babayemi Oyekunle highlighted the Consultant Pharmacists Cadre’s significance in acknowledging specialized pharmacists’ expertise, improving patient safety, and healthcare delivery.

He said: “It’s is now long overdue for Lagos State to have a Coordinated Wholesale Centre just as Kano State now has. What this does is that we are now able to trace every drug that comes into the state.

“This will eliminate the sale of adulterated, unwholesome, and fake drugs because now, we would be able to know the sources of every medication that the citizens of the state are taking.”

He said further that “establishing this centre is important because Lagos State has the highest population in Nigeria. Lagos should copy best global practices.

“All over the world, people can trace the source of their drugs. But as it is in Lagos now, we can’t trace the source of our drugs.”

While substantiating Oyekunle, the Lagos State Chairman of Association of Community Pharmacists in Nigeria, Tolulope Ajayi said it’s high time the government buckled up to make a wholesale centre available for the benefits of the citizens.

Ajayi said: “The government should have the political will to make a coordinated wholesale centre available to regulate drug distribution.

“If we don’t have a coordinated wholesale centre, falsified drugs will continue to have their way into our system unhindered.”

He added that addressing these concerns, Lagos State can align with global best practices, ensure better healthcare delivery, and safeguard its citizens’ well-being.

Pharmacists Abiola Paul -Ozieh also echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for a holistic approach to patient care and calling for political will to establish a CWC.

They believe that by addressing concerns of these professionals, Lagos State can align with global best practices, ensure better healthcare delivery, and safeguard its citizens well-being.