Community pharmacists appeal for enabling environment

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), has called on the government to provide enabling environment for its members through reduction of taxes on imported pharmaceutical raw materials, to ensure the continued survival of pharmaceutical businesses in the country.

National Chairman of ACPN, Dr. Albert Aikali, made the call at the 2016 ACPN, Education Conference, with the theme, ‘Impact of manpower development on community pharmacy sustainability,’ held in Lagos.

He also called on government to prioritise primary healthcare services to ensure quality healthcare services in the grassroots.

Aikali said: “We have had series of meetings with government officials and we told them that national drug security is key to the health of the nation because without good health there is no way the nation could be productive.

“Drug is key to health, so government must pay special attention to the primary healthcare sector to ensure Nigerians have access to quality healthcare services.”

He appealed to the government to immediately appoint a Director General for National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), to ensure Nigerians are not exposed to fake and counterfeited drugs.