Pharmacists under the auspices of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) warned that continued delay in launching the long-awaited Nigeria’s National Prescription Policy (NPP) is threatening critical reforms in drug regulation.
In a letter dated August 8, 2025 and addressed to Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the ACPN urged him to allow stakeholders to review the draft National Prescription Policy (NPP) before its proposed launch.
The association stressed that a thorough review is vital to ensure accuracy, inclusivity, and long-term effectiveness, reports Daily Independent.
While commending the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOH&SW) for reviving the NPP, a policy document last worked on in 2013/2014, ACPN however noted that it was abandoned due to unresolved conflicts and key stakeholder walkouts.
In the letter which was signed by Pharmacist Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, ACPN National Chairman and Pharmacist Omokhafe Ashore, its National Secretary.
The group noted that the new push for the policy represents a significant opportunity to address long-standing gaps in drug regulation and patient care, but stressed that rushing to launch without final stakeholder input could undermine its objectives.
According to the ACPN, the NPP process has faced major setbacks in the past — many of which remain relevant today. The association pointed to what it described as the “non-committal posturing” of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) at crucial points, particularly in drug categorisation.
They also criticised the Food and Drugs Department of the FMOH&SW for failing, on multiple occasions, to provide essential technical information to guide the committee’s work.
The ACPN further lamented that some stakeholders placed narrow professional interests above public health, even attempting to subject national policy decisions to the approval of their own organisational leadership. The group argued that future committees must prioritise the experience and public health commitment of members over factional considerations.
The pharmacists’ body stressed that reviewing the draft before launch will help ensure that all policy extracts are properly documented and reflect the consensus reached during committee sessions.
Such a framework, the ACPN argued, would improve patient safety, reduce the incidence of counterfeit or substandard medicines, and boost treatment outcomes nationwide.
Beyond the NPP, the ACPN urged the FMOH&SW to champion improved funding for the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN). The council, they said, plays a stabilising role in regulating the practice of pharmacy, ensuring compliance with the Poison and Pharmacy Act, and safeguarding the integrity of the drug supply chain.
“Pharmacy-specific functions can no longer be underfunded or neglected,” the letter emphasised, noting that effective prescription policing requires strong regulatory oversight backed by adequate resources.
The ACPN called for an immediate but well-prepared launch of the NPP, following a final review by interested stakeholders. They described the policy’s eventual implementation as a potential “watershed” for Nigerian healthcare and a significant achievement for the Tinubu administration.
If properly executed, the group said, the NPP could transform prescription practices, strengthen public health protections, and set Nigeria on a path toward global best practices in drug regulation.
The statement reads, “ The Association of Community Pharmacist of Nigeria (ACPN) finds it necessary to commend the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) for deeming it fit and proper to initiate action on the NPP which was last worked on after abandonment in 2013/14 following unresolved conflicts which triggered a walk-out of key interest groups at that time.
“We find it necessary to put on record that this current effort is not devoid of its own fair share of challenges which we have managed to work through.
“It is imperative that some of the specific challenges in this current exercise be properly documented for posterity particularly to enhance the bureaucracy associated with efforts in this direction in the foreseeable future.
“The seeming non-committal posturing of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) at crucial junctures of the assignment was a huge disservice.
“It was most awkward in operational planning for an agency that registers drug products in Nigeria to maintain a lukewarm position on the appropriate categorisation of drugs in an evolving Prescription Policy for the country.
“The Foods and Drugs department of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through its policy unit almost bungled the NPP initiative like it did with the discredited and rejected Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Federal Health Institutions (FHIs).
On at least three occasions the Food and Drugs departments were mandated to provide technical information to guide the Committee on key subject matters, which it failed to deliver on in all the referred junctures.
“It will be appropriate to carry out necessary oversight on the department to improve its efficacy as this bureaucratic lapses may prove to be too costly subsequently.
“On a general note we abhor the tendencies of some stakeholders to uphold their narrow professional and group interest over that of the consuming public.
“One of the less than responsible demands was a request by a Stakeholder to present the Committee work before the NEC of his organisation for approval before the entire country could implement the extracts of the NPP committee.
“This was turned down only because the Chairman of the Committee who had earlier prevented the same stakeholder from slowing the operations of the Committee any time it was not agreeable to issues being considered was proactive throughout Committee Sessions.
“The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare must ensure that in future dispensations a maximum premium is placed on experience and exposure of representatives of key stakeholders on such national Committees.
“Special kudos must be extended to the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and some of the other Professional Regulatory Councils for providing stabilisation at stress junctures associated with the assignment.
“The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare must see the need to get the Presidency to work in alignment with the enabling statutes of the various Professional Regulatory Councils to guarantee the unhindered discharge of their routine responsibilities under the law.
“This in addition to the value based service each of these various Councils brings to bear on the total quality management inherent in positive health outcomes.
“It is apt to sensitise the Federal Ministry of Health to clamour for improved funding for the PCN to enable it cope with the new dimensions of ensuring that only registered facilities dispense medicines in accordance with prescriptions from legitimate prescribers within the purview the Poison and Pharmacy Act Cap 535 LFN 1990.
“The ACPN takes a position that Pharmacy-specific functions can no longer be underfunded or neglected as it must now be designated as a priority regulatory focus and concern. If Nigeria must awaken a consciousness to protect public health with regards to the drug component then, there is no other route to success apart from this highlighted roadmap.
“The ACPN calls for an immediate launch of the NPP to pave the way for its full implementation as this will be a watershed in the annals of healthcare and a big plus for the Health Sector under the watch of the Tinubu Administration.
“It is however pertinent that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare must avail the ACPN and stakeholders who desire it an opportunity to review the draft NPP before the launch to be sure that the Secretariat of the Committee properly documented all decision extracts correctly.
“Finally, the ACPN wishes the Honourable Coordinating Minister more wins in the epic struggle to attain conformity with best practice in healthcare in Nigeria,” the statement added.
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