By Chioma Obinna

The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof. Cyril Usifoh has reaffirmed the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria’s (PCN) authority to regulate facilities selling veterinary medicines.

In his address at the 97th Annual Conference of the PSN, he cited legal precedents and industry standards to support the PCN’s role.
Usifoh emphasised that the PCN’s oversight is crucial to ensure that veterinary medicine facilities adhere to Good Pharmaceutical Practice (GPP) standards.

This includes proper storage, handling, distribution, and dispensing of these medications.

He pointed to a landmark court case judgement issued by Hon. Justice (Dr.) Nnamdi O. Dimgba in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/66/08. Where he affirmed that there’s no distinction between human and animal drugs in terms of regulatory oversight.

Usifoh explained that the suit was commenced by an originating summon seeking the determination of three issues and prayed for the five declarations by the honourable court.

The Judge, according to Usifoh posited: “That the distinction sought to be drawn between human drugs and animal drugs is a misguided one” by the plaintiffs.

The Judge, in that same judgement, stated that “if the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria by its existence and operations does not threaten the existence of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), how can the Veterinary Council be threatened simply because the PCN insists on registration of premises where animal drugs are kept as they also insist on premises where human drugs are kept.”

The judge therefore concluded: “It is therefore clear from the above analysis the futility of the suit, and why I believe that it must fail.”

The PSN President also addressed the ongoing concerns regarding the welfare of public-sector pharmacists.

He commended the recent efforts of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals Associations (AHPA) in securing better working conditions and remuneration for healthcare workers, including pharmacists.

Usifoh highlighted key achievements from the recent agreement between the Federal Government and JOHESU to include salary adjustment – the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) to align with the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
Citing that PSN will continue to prioritise the interest of its members in the hospital and administrative sector to ensure fairness, equity, and justice to all concerned in the head team of our nation, he cited the warning strike of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU)and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals Associations (AHPA), which pervaded the landscape last week until it was called off on Thursday, October 31.

At the conciliation meeting between JOHESU and the Federal Government team exactly one week ago, the memorandum of understanding (MOU) included payment of nine months’ salaries of workers, including pharmacies in 14 professional regulatory councils (PCN included), which was initially removed from the 2024 appropriation budget.

He further commended the ‘doggedness’ of their colleagues, the founding fathers of JOHESU, who have helped sustain its ideas, albeit vigorously, for over ten years now.
Usifoh however, highlighted that part of the agreement between the Federal Government and JOHESisre ensuring the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) as was done for the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) since January 2, 2014. This was actualised through payment as per the estimate provided by the National Salaries and Wages Commission (NSWIC).

The agreement also included the full implementation of the appointment of Pharmacist Consultants in all 73 federal health institutions (FHIs), the payment of nine months’ salaries to workers, including pharmacists in 14 professional regulatory councils (PCN included), which was initially removed from the 2024 appropriation budget, among others.

Continuing, he said: “We continue to collaborate with the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, on the accreditation of community pharmacies as Primary Care facilities leveraging on the achievements of community pharmacies who participated in COVID-19 vaccination.”

He said PSN as part of its professional defense, should mobilise the ACPN for the court intervention on the impact on social health insurance while putting it on alert to seek redress on the emerging NHFRA.