By Doris Obinna
Pharmaceutical experts have said it’s going to reposition the pharmacy sector through investment, research, and training to achieve an effective healthcare system and create opportunities for national development.
Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), after its colloquium in Lagos, with the theme, “Repositioning pharmacy in an unstable economy,” released a communiqué, which advocated collaboration and collective responsibility to create a sustainable pharmacy profession and industry.
The communiqué, which had the input of prominent members of the pharmacy profession, was jointly signed by the president, Prof. Cyril Usifoh, and the national secretary Gbenga Falabi.
The colloquium noted that despite Nigeria having 170 universities and 20 approved pharmacy schools, there is no structure in place for collaboration between academia and the pharmaceutical sector.
The communiqué partly reads,” There are 170 universities and 20 accredited pharmacy schools in Nigeria but no structured pathway to promote knowledge exchange between academia and the pharmaceutical industry.
The colloquium also noted that there were a few collaborations existing in clinical development and bioequivalence studies, but not many in API or drug dosage form development.
Other gaps it identified were, “Underestimation of the potential value of university-industry collaboration within the pharmaceutical industry and low-level entrepreneurship mindset within the university or academic community.
The experts, therefore, identified major drivers to move the sector forward including government, universities, industry stakeholders, and professional bodies and advocacy groups.
“Government as sustainable pharmacy sector driver; government must enact laws that ensure public-private partnership to commercialise inventions; treat potential drug insecurity and shortages as a national or existential risk as well as create tax credits for companies that sponsor research and development (R&D) in universities and clinical trials etc.
“Universities must develop an entrepreneurial mindset and framework to facilitate collaboration with the industry; perform internal review and advertise competencies to relevant networks.
“Outlined the role of the pharma industryin moving the sector forward, and also perform a survey of commonly used APIs and strategies to prioritise those around which Nigeria may have a competitive advantage.”
The conference stressed that PSN must develop a framework for continuous engagement and advocacy with all tiers of government to promote academia-industry collaboration.
It also called for the transformation of pharmacy practice to a relevant, sustainable, and rewarding profession in Nigeria through radical, but sustainable strategic interventions in eight areas.
On pharmacy education, it states that overall, the future of pharmacy education is likely characterised by increased use of technology with a greater emphasis on inter-professional education and practice, and a focus on preparing students to be leaders in population health and health systems.
While it also advocates that the future of pharmaceutical clinical research be shaped by several key trends and advancements, including the use of digital technologies, the growing focus on patient-centred research, changing regulations and ethical considerations, and the need for greater collaboration between researchers, industry, and regulators.
The conference urged for the full implementation of a consultant cadre for pharmacists in the public sector at the federal level despite the fulfillment of due process as epitomised by the circulars from the Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation in 2020 and 2021.