By Tina George – Minna
The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has disclosed that there are about 300 pharmacy professors in Nigeria and almost 100,000 registered patent medicine stores across 774 local government areas in the country.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Professor Ahmed Mora stated this during the naming of the conference Hall of PCN building of the north-central office after a former PCN Chairman, Professor Elijah Sokomba.
He explained that there are about 27 universities currently offering pharmacy degree programmes, adding that out of the number, 22 universities have been fully accredited by PCN and the National Universities Commission, NUC.
Mora stated that although there are 200 pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, thousands of importers of community pharmacies and hospital pharmacies across the country at the primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare levels, the outlets to access pharmaceutical care were not evenly distributed.
According to him, the journey of PCN in regulating pharmacies, pharmaceutical premises and the healthcare system in Nigeria had been a tortuous but successful one, adding that the Council have begun immortalizing its past Chairmen and Registrars who had given their all to bring the profession to its present place of pride in the nation.
Mora said that the Council would be doing this by naming an auditorium or committee rooms within newly completed PCN facilities across the nation.
A past Chairman of PCN, Sokomba was honoured in Niger state with the conference Hall at the North Central Zonal office named after him.
Responding to the gesture, the professor appreciated the gesture of PCN saying it is laudable.
He said that the gesture would encourage younger pharmacists who will bear the responsibility of the Council.
