World Pharmacists’ Day: Expert calls for review of advance clinical training for pharmacists

 

 

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

Ilorin – Dr Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Health Insurance Agency (KWHIA) has called for the review of advanced clinical training for pharmacists in Nigeria.

Jetawo-Winter made the call on Monday in Ilorin in her paper presentation at the commemoration of the World Pharmacists’ Day organised by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Kwara-Chapter.

The theme of the day is entitled: “Pharmacy Strengthening the Health Systems”.

She submitted that pharmacists will continue to play an important role in strengthening the health care system in the country.

According to her, pharmacists are the only healthcare professionals trained to excel in knowledge of drug action and offering pharmaceutical care.

“Therefore, the government needs to ensure that pharmacists are fully incorporated, and involved in the provision of pharmaceutical care services in the health system.

“This shifts the focus of the pharmacy profession from drug product to patient-centred care for better clinical outcomes,” he said.

Jetawo-Winter postulated the benefits of including pharmacists are the detection of drug therapy problems and the development of various chronic disease indicators (CDIs).

She explained further that pharmacists-led care interventions are highly effective in long-term disease prevention, medication therapy management, and improvement in drug-related patient outcomes.

She advocated technologically driven solutions for some of the challenges that pharmacy practice faces in Nigeria.

The expert asserted that transcription and electronic transmission of prescriptions to the pharmacy will allow dispensing to be completed before the patient arrives at the pharmacy, giving the pharmacist room for more clinical care.

“An enabling environment must be created for health workers that inculcates training and retraining to keep up with the rapidly changing pharmacy space.

“This includes new technology out spacing old ones, with new more effective and compliance-oriented drugs entities being introduced into markets,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reports that at a panellist discussion, healthcare providers from different fields unanimously called for collaboration among them to strengthen the healthcare system in Nigeria.

Dr Abdulmalik Mohammed, the Chairman of PSN-Kwara enjoined pharmacists to be accountable for the dispensing of drugs.

He explained that the pharmacist’s role includes a Pharmacovigilance role in explaining to their patients what to expect from the drug.

Mohammed tasked pharmacists on the Pharmacists’ Council of Nigeria (PCN)-Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) programme.

He explained that this is a re-certification programme developed by PCN for Pharmacists, aimed at keeping them abreast of current trends and developments in the pharmaceutical landscape as well as global best practices.

On his part, Dr AbdulRahman Malik, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Hospital Management Board underscored the need for the association to partner with law enforcement and partnership with other stakeholders.

The expert also emphasized the need to incorporate good packaging of drugs, while enabling members good dress and present to their clients.

Similarly, Dr. Ola Ahmed, the Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Kwara Chapter charged all healthcare providers with better relationships.

He observed that medical doctors have enough responsibility than to dabble in the area of responsibility for the pharmacists.

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