By SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN CITY—THE Acting Registrar of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, PCN, Mrs. Gloria Abumere, has called on the federal and state governments to boost productivity in the health sector by employing more  pharmacists in the civil service.

Abumere, who said this at the induction of pharmacy graduands at the University of Benin added that “Pharmacists are good team players, trained to work with other healthcare professionals with a view to give the best for humanity.”

She charged pharmacists to continually maintain the high standard of the profession and ensure that they are not compromised in their daily practice.

She disclosed that consistent efforts have been made by the council to regulate the practice, asserting that “the Continuing Professional Development, CPD, programme is the veritable instrument by which the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria officially ensure continuing competence of pharmacists through out their careers. There is need, to keep up to date in current international best practices as high skilled professionals.”

Speaking on behalf of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Peter Ugbodaga, said the state government had come out with a blueprint to employ pharmacists in some of the public hospitals in the state.

“As part of our efforts to developing infrastructures in our public hospitals and health centres across the state, we are determined in hiring more health workers and pharmacists are the forefront of this employment, we know you (Pharmacists) will give the people the needed health attention in the state” she said.