Nigeria’s community pharmacists have called on the federal government to impose sanctions on pharmaceutical companies and practitioners allegedly involved in illegal drug distribution practices within public hospitals, warning that the situation threatens the integrity of the nation’s health system.
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), in a statement signed by Ezeh Igwekamma, its National Chairman accused several Federal Health Institutions (FHIs) of flouting existing drug laws by permitting unregistered private pharmacy operators to run drug sales and distribution under Public–Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.
The ACPN listed several FHIs allegedly operating illegal PPP pharmacy models, including University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Kano, National Hospital Abuja, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and several Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) in Makurdi, Umuahia, Jabi and Nguru.