Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has stressed the need for practicing pharmacists and medical doctors in Nigeria to work more closely in tackling the health needs of the people.
The Deputy Governor made the call over the weekend at a Dinner and Award Ceremony organized by the state branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) as part of activities marking this year’s World Pharmacists’ Day in Yenagoa.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo noted that effective collaboration between members of the two professions would go a long way in addressing the challenges confronting the health sector of the country.
Describing the pharmaceutical profession as dear and indispensable, he urged pharmacists to guide medical doctors in the prescription of drugs to enable patients procure the right drugs, save cost and prevent unnecessary deaths.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo equally called on members of the PSN to adopt what he calls the three-prong approach of advocacy, legal reforms and assertiveness in seeking solution to the problems besetting the profession.
He said the existing legal regulatory framework in the health sector needed to be reviewed to give more roles and powers to pharmacists to enable them discharge their statutory duties effectively.
Responding to the issue of shortage of pharmacists in the state public service, Senator Ewhrudjakpo promised that Government would look into the matter and take necessary steps to address it.
His words: “Our society needs to grow, and all of us need to put our hands on deck for society to grow. The pharmacy profession is one that is quite dear to all of us. I will encourage us to take the issue of pharmacy very seriously and practice it the way it ought to be practiced.
“I think we need to push a little bit of the frontiers of our demands. Pharmacists are supposed to guide doctors in the prescription and dispensation of drugs, but that is not the case in Nigeria.
“Pharmacists and medical doctors in this country have to work more closely even in the areas of jointly examining patients and proffering solutions to our health challenges.
“As I said, the world is meant for those who fight for their rights. You need to speak more, act more, and do more. This world is a world of competition which brings about desires. You can achieve this on the three fronts of advocacy, legal reforms and assertiveness.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the State Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mr Ronari Charles Owaba, emphasized the need for proper staffing of pharmacy departments in health institutions to carry out prescription, education and counselling services.
Mr Owaba, who described the 2021 Pharmacy Day theme, “Pharmacy Always Trusted for Your Health” as timely, thanked the Deputy Governor for always supporting PSN programmes.
Presenting a special award to the Deputy Governor on behalf of the PSN, Mr Daniel Orumwese, appealed to government to employ more pharmacists to meet up manpower requirements in the service.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of Recognition of Outstanding Support Award and the PSN Drugs Matter Magazine to Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.