By Victor Ogunyinka
The
president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ahmed
Yakasai, has highlighted his agenda and given an appraisal of the health
sector in the last calendar year.
Yakasai made his presentation at his first media chat at the pharmacy
house, Lagos, since elected as the 20th president of the society.
Against the backdrop of countless challenges bedevilling the health
sector, which has led to clashes in superiority among the different
health workers, Yakasai highlighted a 21-point agenda, which he said
would “strengthen our society with collaborative, participatory,
responsive and transparent leadership.
“My focus to achieve these visions include: enhancing the role of PSN by
means of wider advocacy at various national and international fora;
stimulating public awareness and knowledge on various health issues with
specific emphasis on drugs; promote rational use of drugs with
cooperation from medical fraternity; foster better communications with
federal and state ministries; strengthen ties and professional
organisations; establish a mechanism for recognising and endorsing
valuable contributions of members; encourage, give more opportunities
and build capacities of young pharmacists and students of pharmacy.
“Strengthen institutional framework; review of pharmacy laws and
regulation in collaboration with relevant arms of government in tandem
with global best practices; actualisation of Pharm. D. Programme as
minimum entry requirements for the practice of pharmacy in Nigeria;
implementations of National Drug Distribution (NDDG) and National Health
Act 2014; promote and support drug research and development; creativity
in organising annual national conference of PSN to match international
standard; creation of online system for professional registration and
e-learning for MCPD needs of pharmacists; initiate professional
indemnity insurance to pharmacists and strengthen group.”
Others are establishment of friends of pharmacy forum to strengthen
bonds with external bodies; to bring about digital innovations to
enhance the efficiency of our practice in-line with international
standards and greater engagement with public through educative and
enlightening special promotion campaigns.
Also, Yakasai explained in his appraisal of the health sector of the
last calendar year that the sector witnessed a mixed fortune, stating
that the efforts of government and care providers to prevent new
episodes of the wild polio and ebola viruses were particularly
impressive.
He however stated that the sector is still battling with poor access to
public health interventions and advocate for a review on the nation’s
dependence on donor agencies, urging the government to strongly create
enabling environment creating intervention funds to enable local drug
manufactures produce antiretroviral drugs and vaccines.
president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ahmed
Yakasai, has highlighted his agenda and given an appraisal of the health
sector in the last calendar year.
Yakasai made his presentation at his first media chat at the pharmacy
house, Lagos, since elected as the 20th president of the society.
Against the backdrop of countless challenges bedevilling the health
sector, which has led to clashes in superiority among the different
health workers, Yakasai highlighted a 21-point agenda, which he said
would “strengthen our society with collaborative, participatory,
responsive and transparent leadership.
“My focus to achieve these visions include: enhancing the role of PSN by
means of wider advocacy at various national and international fora;
stimulating public awareness and knowledge on various health issues with
specific emphasis on drugs; promote rational use of drugs with
cooperation from medical fraternity; foster better communications with
federal and state ministries; strengthen ties and professional
organisations; establish a mechanism for recognising and endorsing
valuable contributions of members; encourage, give more opportunities
and build capacities of young pharmacists and students of pharmacy.
“Strengthen institutional framework; review of pharmacy laws and
regulation in collaboration with relevant arms of government in tandem
with global best practices; actualisation of Pharm. D. Programme as
minimum entry requirements for the practice of pharmacy in Nigeria;
implementations of National Drug Distribution (NDDG) and National Health
Act 2014; promote and support drug research and development; creativity
in organising annual national conference of PSN to match international
standard; creation of online system for professional registration and
e-learning for MCPD needs of pharmacists; initiate professional
indemnity insurance to pharmacists and strengthen group.”
Others are establishment of friends of pharmacy forum to strengthen
bonds with external bodies; to bring about digital innovations to
enhance the efficiency of our practice in-line with international
standards and greater engagement with public through educative and
enlightening special promotion campaigns.
Also, Yakasai explained in his appraisal of the health sector of the
last calendar year that the sector witnessed a mixed fortune, stating
that the efforts of government and care providers to prevent new
episodes of the wild polio and ebola viruses were particularly
impressive.
He however stated that the sector is still battling with poor access to
public health interventions and advocate for a review on the nation’s
dependence on donor agencies, urging the government to strongly create
enabling environment creating intervention funds to enable local drug
manufactures produce antiretroviral drugs and vaccines.