By Chioma Obinna

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Lagos State Chapter, has urged the Lagos State Government to expedite the implementation of the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre in the state, warning that failure to act could escalate the ongoing strike by health workers in the state.

The demand came on the heels of an ongoing three-day warning strike by health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) in Lagos.

In a letter addressed to the Head of Service of Lagos State, PSN Lagos State Chairman, Pharm. Babayemi Oyekunle stressed what they described as the “unending delays” in issuing a circular to formalise the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre.

Oyekunke further described it as a critical demand that was agreed upon during engagements with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, dating back to his campaign period.

According to the PSN, the Pharmacist Consultant Cadre was first approved in 2011 by the National Council on Establishment (NCE) and reaffirmed in 2021.

“This cadre has since been adopted in several states, including Edo, Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Niger, and Kwara, as well as by federal health institutions. Notably, over 250 Consultant Pharmacists have recently been appointed at the federal level, with the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, leading with over 30 appointments.”

They criticised attempts to rename the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre as a “Specialist Cadre” in Lagos, describing it as a “deviation” from national and global best practices. Citing examples from the UK, USA, and neighboring West African countries like Gambia, Liberia, and Ghana, the PSN argued that the title of “Consultant” is a widely accepted norm in health care.

Oyekunle also noted that past attempts to relegate Pharmacists’ designations within Lagos State — such as the previous “Controller of Pharmaceutical Services” title instead of “Director” — were corrected only after intervention from the Ministry of Establishment.

The letter reads in parts: “We have observed with great surprise that there are current attempts to mutilate the configuration of the Pharmacists Consultant cadre to a Specialist Cadre which is contrary to the norm both nationally and internationally.

 “It is imperative to state that a Specialist Cadre has never been on the cards in our negotiations at Federal and State levels for the reflected reasons which include: In all the negotiations dating back to 2018 when JOHESU/AHPA engaged the Ambode administration to contemporary times when NUAHP/JOHESU negotiated with the Sanwo-Olu administration we demanded specifically for a Consultant Cadre and not a Specialist Cadre.

“We rely on International Labour Organisation (ILO) instruments, especially the Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention, 1978 (No 151) which states “the convention promotes collective bargaining for public employers (LASG) as well as other methods allowing public employees representatives (PSN/JOHESU) to participate in the determination of their conditions of employment.

“It also provides that disputes shall be settled through negotiation between the parties through independent and impartial machinery such as mediation, conciliation, and arbitration.

“For us in PSN (Lagos State), the LASG-PSN/JOHESU negotiations which provided a MOU earlier on are very unambiguous that our demand has always been and will remain CONSULTANT CADRE and not a Specialist Cadre.

 “The genesis of Consultant Pharmacist Cadre remains the approval of the NCE as earlier canvassed. Lagos State remains one of the pivotal forces of the NCE itself as the golden voice of its representative in 2021 (Dr. Augustine Abiodun Onayele, PS Office of Establishment & Training) was one of the reasons the 2011 approval was re-validated again.”

Continuing, the PSN raised concerns about what it described as discrimination against pharmacists in Lagos, especially when other states and federal institutions have implemented the Consultant Cadre.

Referring to Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on gender, religion, or professional affiliation, the PSN called on the state government to uphold the rights of pharmacists.
The letter also accused senior physicians within the Lagos State health system of blocking the full implementation of the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre, alleging that “senior physicians” in the state’s employment continue to use their influence to frustrate the process.

On the lingering demands and unfulfilled agreements, the PSN also listed unresolved demands that had been agreed upon during a meeting with the Lagos State Government on May 24, 2023.

These include full implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) in line with a recently approved federal circular on peculiar allowances, implementation of enhanced call, shift, and non-clinical duty allowances, issuance of a circular recognising the Directorate of Medical Laboratory Services.

Domestication of the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre and the implementation of call duty allowances for Dental Technologists and Therapists.

According to PSN, despite assurances to resolve these issues within four weeks of the May 2023 agreement, most of them remain unaddressed 15 months later.

The PSN urged the Lagos State Government to promptly issue the circular for the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre, as was done at the federal level and in other southwest states.

The society warned that failure to act could escalate the ongoing strike by JOHESU, potentially disrupting healthcare services in Lagos State.

“We respectfully enjoin the Lagos State Government to issue the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre Circular which was first issued in 2018 as part of redressing outstanding benefit packages demanded by health workers who are currently on a 3-day warning strike,” the letter stated.

The PSN reaffirmed its commitment to promoting good health practices in Lagos State and expressed hope that the government would respond swiftly to prevent a prolonged health sector crisis.