Pharmacists in Kogi State have called for greater recognition, improved working conditions, and stronger professional inclusion to help them contribute effectively to healthcare delivery.

They made the call on Friday in Lokoja while commemorating the 2026 World Pharmacists Day, themed “Empowering pharmacists for healthier futures”.

Lawal Muhammed, chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Kogi Chapter, said the celebration highlighted pharmacists’ enormous contributions to healthcare delivery globally.

He described the day as an international event set aside by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) to showcase pharmacists’ roles in promoting healthier communities.

Mr Muhammed said pharmacists should be given full opportunities to apply their knowledge, competence and skills without hindrance when providing pharmaceutical care to patients.

He said pharmacists help patients navigate medication use, possible side effects and adverse drug reactions while monitoring their responses to treatment.

The chairman explained that the pharmacist’s role had evolved beyond interpreting prescriptions and dispensing medicines to providing comprehensive pharmaceutical care to patients.

He said pharmacists now screen prescriptions for safety, efficacy and appropriateness while conducting pharmacotherapy workups to ensure safe medication use and desired treatment outcomes.

Mr Muhammed emphasised the need for teamwork and supportive working environments, noting that some pharmacists worked under intense and hostile conditions that raised concerns about their safety.

He also advocated improved pharmacy infrastructure, saying the profession had moved beyond window dispensing, where patients’ privacy and confidentiality could be compromised.

“We ask for a supportive work environment where patients can be counselled and receive the full services rendered by a pharmacist,” he said.

Mr Muhammed urged governments at all levels to support postgraduate and residency programmes that would enable pharmacists to acquire specialised knowledge and skills.

He said financial constraints had limited the number of pharmacists able to specialise, urging governments to establish funding mechanisms to encourage young pharmacists to pursue specialised training.

“Prescriptions are not an order but are subject to pharmacists’ validation,” he said, emphasising that excluding pharmacists from healthcare delivery posed serious health risks.

He also called for improved remuneration, particularly at the state level, saying poor salaries had driven pharmacists to relocate abroad for better opportunities.

Caroline Omachona, chairman of the Community Pharmacists Association of Nigeria, Kogi Chapter, distinguished pharmacists from patent medicine vendors based on their professional roles.

She said pharmacists were licensed professionals trained to provide pharmaceutical care and counsel patients, while patent medicine vendors could provide first aid before referring patients.

Ms Omachona identified multiple taxation as a major challenge facing community pharmacists in Kogi, noting that some businesses faced up to 10 taxes from a single source.

She appealed to the government to reduce the tax burden, saying funds spent on multiple taxes could instead be used to procure quality medicines for patients.

She also called for the inclusion of community pharmacists in health insurance schemes and improved internet infrastructure to strengthen pharmaceutical service delivery.

John Medewase, immediate past chairman and state coordinator of the Young Pharmacists Forum, Kogi Chapter, called for legal empowerment of pharmacists to participate in clinical rounds.

He said pharmacists’ involvement in clinical rounds would enable direct interaction with patients and improve therapeutic outcomes through better medication management.

Mr Medewase also urged implementation of the modular pharmacy initiative approved under the 2022 Act, saying it could extend quality pharmaceutical services to underserved communities.

He added that many pharmacies sourced medicines directly from pharmaceutical companies or certified distributors as part of measures to curb the circulation of fake drugs.

(NAN)