The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has voiced concerns over the Federal Government’s proposed reforms to introduce new regulations for healthcare facilities across the country.
The association described these reforms as unnecessary and unlikely to provide meaningful benefits to the sector.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Ambrose Eze, and Secretary, Omokhafe Ashore, the ACPN argued that the existing National Health Act of 2014, if fully implemented, is sufficient to address the issues of unregulated and substandard healthcare facilities in Nigeria.
While the ACPN supports the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in his efforts to tackle substandard healthcare facilities, it insists that any reforms should be aligned with existing legislative frameworks, including the 1999 Constitution.
“Currently, there are numerous health statutes, such as the National Health Act 2014, that have not been fully activated for the benefit of healthcare consumers. The problem of substandard health facilities is also exacerbated by the severely inadequate funding of existing regulatory agencies in the healthcare sector,” the statement read.
The ACPN criticized the proposal to establish a new National Health Regulatory Facility, describing it as wasteful and ineffective.
“The Federal Government must exercise caution; it cannot claim a lack of funds to support existing regulatory councils while simultaneously planning to create a new National Health Regulatory Facility to oversee healthcare across the country.”
The association emphasized the need to respect Nigeria’s constitutional framework for regulating healthcare professions, noting that pharmacy matters fall exclusively under federal jurisdiction, while other healthcare professions are regulated by both the federal and state governments.
The ACPN called on the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) to prioritize strengthening existing regulatory bodies, such as the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
The association urged the government to fully implement the National Health Act of 2014 rather than create new regulatory structures.
The statement further highlighted the importance of consulting healthcare professionals and stakeholders before implementing any new reforms.
The ACPN expressed hope that the government would adopt a more collaborative approach to address the challenges facing the healthcare sector.
“The National Health Act 2014 empowers the FMoH to establish a Tertiary Health Facility Commission to regulate all Federal Health Institutions and other facilities operating at the federal level. The failure of the FMoH to act on this has led to calls for new structures that will ultimately provide no real value,” the association stated.
