ACPN Seeks Speedy Approval of Pharmacy-first Initiative
Pharmacists under the aegis of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) have made a strong case for the adoption of thePharmacy First Initiative (PFI)by the federal government to
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) is urging the federal government to swiftly approve the Pharmacy First Initiative (PFI) to transform Nigeria's healthcare system. In a statement, the ACPN's National Chairman, Ambrose Ezeh, and National Secretary, Obiageri Ikwu, described the initiative as a strategic route to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by expanding community pharmacy services into primary healthcare hubs.
UHC ensures accessible, equitable, and high-quality health services. The ACPN emphasizes the importance of community pharmacies in providing essential drugs, managing uncomplicated diseases, and offering basic screening services at the community level, thereby alleviating the burden on secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities.
The group highlights the need for systematic documentation and data collection from these services to inform policy development and healthcare planning. To maximize the benefits of PFI, the ACPN recommends that community pharmacies adopt modern ideas and leverage their proximity to patients. They call on pharmacists to provide free basic screening for common conditions like hypertension and diabetes, and to establish pharmacy-based clinics for counseling and advocacy in areas such as malaria prevention, antenatal care, family planning, and smoking cessation.
The ACPN urges governments at all levels to invest in community pharmacies as the optimal platform for UHC, citing the UK's Pharmacy First model and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as examples of successful integration of community pharmacies into the healthcare system.
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