FG CALLS ON PHARMACISTS TO JUSTIFY GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT

The Federal Ministry of Health has called on  the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria to justify governments’ huge investment in creating Consultants Cadre for Pharmacists in Civil and Public Service in Nigeria.

The Ministry gave the warning in a sensitization workshop to kick start the implementation of the Pharmacist Consultancy Cadre, on Tuesday in Abuja. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Abdulaziz Abdullahi who was represented by Dr. Abubakar Ismail said that government spent a huge amount of resources to set up the Consultant Cadre and therefore the pharmacists must endeavour to achieve the objective in which the cadre was set.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health in his contribution said the Ministry liaised with the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission to review the salary structure for the new consultant cadre.
Speaking at the event, Professor Ahmed Mora, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, tasked the new consultants to work with other healthcare professional to provide advance and integrated healthcare service across the country.

Mora said the workshop was to prepare and induct fellows that are now approved consultants for the benefit of patients and health care system.

In a keynote address by Noel Wannang, former secretary-general of West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists said the approval of the Pharmacist Consultancy Cadre was a major milestone in the life of the profession and will improve Nigeria’s pharmacy ranking according to the World Health Organization.

In an interview with Signature at the event, Registrar Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Elijah Muhammed, said that the aim of the Consultant Cadre is for patients to get better treatment and service.
The one day workshop had in attendance academics from the pharmaceutical department across Nigerian universities and other stakeholders.