TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
The Governing Council Chairman of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Prof. Ahmed Tijjani Mora on Saturday hinted that his administration would reposition the council in order to address the challenges affecting pharmacy education, training and practice in the country.
Mora gave this hint after he wasn inaugurated as the PCN Chairman , saying, the new governing council would address challenges associated with internship placement of young pharmacists, foreign graduate orientation programme , functions of the governing council itself , examination of pharmacists after internship and the chaotic drug distribution chain among many others.
He further noted that, it was worrisome that many young pharmacists after induction and administration of oath of pharmacy do not find place for internship and continue to struggle and go round for months on end.
He, however, stated that, he has set up committees to look into the , challenges while adding that, “ We will address the problem so that by the time students are administered the oath ,they already know where they will be doing their internship.”
Mora who was former Registrar of the PCN between 2003 and 2012 called on all pharmacists in the country to join hands with the council in moving the profession forward.
He, therefore, enjoined dissenting voices to sheath their swords and embrace his inauguration as the will of God and the right choice by the government.
It would be recalled that, the Federal Government had earlier on Monday inaugurated the governing council of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN).
Speaking during the inauguration in Abuja , Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said the governing council of PCN was to provide guidance and direction for the efficient discharge of the functions of the council as stipulated in its enabling Act.
He said that, “The Governing Council is also to ensure that it aligns its functions with the vision of President Muhammad Buhari, GCFR, for the country on health as spelt out in the 2nd edition of the National Strategic Health Development Plan (2018 – 2020)”.
Ehanire further stated that, PCN was vital to the health care system as reflected in its function in the regulation of the training of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and the practice of the pharmacy profession.
He said key issues that should engage the attention of the new council include: standard of training, code and ethics of practice, proliferation of illegal premises, unsatisfactory distribution of medicines, and drug abuse.
Meanwhile, the Registrar of the PCN, Pharmacist , Elijah Mohammed, said the inauguration of the council was a welcome development and that the council hopes to work with the new governing council to move the profession forward.
