The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has advised the National Assembly against creating new health commissions under the proposed amendment of the National Health Act (NH-Act) 2014.
The association stated this in a communiqué jointly signed by its National Chairman, Mr. Ambrose Ezeh, and National Secretary, Mr. Omokhafe Ashore, following public hearings held by both chambers of the National Assembly.
It noted that various groups had proposed the establishment of a Surrogacy Commission, a National Accreditation and Standards Commission, a Tertiary Health Institutions Commission, and Sickle Cell Research and Therapy Centres in all six geopolitical zones and the FCT.
The ACPN, however, described the proposals as legally unnecessary, economically unrealistic, and administratively wasteful, insisting that the existing National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee (NTHISC) already had the mandate to regulate tertiary hospitals, accreditation processes, and organ procurement standards.
“The attempt to create three commissions from the legal structures established in the NH-Act 2014 is unnecessary. All endeavours relating to organ trafficking and procurement, surrogacy, and accreditation of tertiary hospital facilities are already lawfully vested in the NTHISC,” the association stated.
It argued that the challenge was not the absence of commissions but inadequate oversight and poor budgetary support for existing regulatory institutions.
“What is missing has been adequate oversight responsibilities by the National Assembly, which ought to insist on providing a robust budget that positions the NTHISC to carry out its statutory responsibilities,” it added.
While acknowledging the high burden of sickle cell disease in Nigeria, the ACPN faulted the proposal to establish seven new Sickle Cell Research and Therapy Centres simultaneously, describing it as “preposterous and unrealistic”.
It said key national research institutions—such as the Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR)—remain severely underfunded.
“Presently, NIPRD does not enjoy a recurrent or capital expenditure budget of up to N20 million monthly, which is why the pace of development is not upbeat in the institute,” the statement noted.
The association also criticized the proposed organogram for the sickle cell centres as unprecedented and inconsistent with international best practices. It recommended instead the establishment of one central research centre, supported by therapy units in the 73 Federal Health Institutions.
It added that Nigeria’s limited health funding should discourage unnecessary bureaucratic expansion, especially at a time when the sector is weighed down by governance gaps.
The ACPN highlighted outstanding issues in the sector, including the non-reconstitution of boards of 73 Federal Health Institutions, non-inauguration of 13 professional regulatory councils, dormant agency boards, and long-standing unfilled vacancies. It also noted that the ongoing Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) strike since Nov. 15 had caused “debilitating paralysis” across federal health institutions due to unresolved 12-year entitlements and discriminatory policies.
The association urged lawmakers to avoid establishing new agencies unless absolutely necessary.
“One of the challenges, in spite of the highlighted absurdities, is a paucity of funds to support needed healthcare initiatives. This must therefore compel a very realistic initiation of proposals in public interest,” it said.
Lawmakers are currently reviewing amendments to the National Health Act 2014 to address perceived regulatory gaps in areas such as surrogacy, organ donation, tertiary hospital accreditation, and quality standards.
