The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), led by its National Chairman, Ambrose Ezeh, has urged the Federal Government to count community pharmacies as clinics within the country’s primary healthcare framework.
Ezeh said pharmacists already serve as the first point of contact for patients.
He explained that they provide free consultations, drug safety counselling, vaccination support, health screenings, and disease prevention programmes.
He added that pharmacists also offer telepharmacy and digital health services to reach people in remote areas.
According to him, recognising pharmacies as clinics would widen healthcare access, improve treatment outcomes, and reduce gaps in the system.
Ezeh appealed in Abuja during the 2025 World Pharmacists Day celebration.
The event, held every Sept. 25, carried the theme “Think Health, Think Pharmacist.”
He also announced new ACPN initiatives to strengthen the profession.
The “Pharmacy Forward: Performance, Collaboration, and Health Transformation” project is to set clear career pathways for pharmacists nationally and internationally.
He unveiled a five-tier advancement scheme for community pharmacy practice, ranging from community pharmacist to consultant level.
He said the programme would boost professional growth, retain skilled talent, and ensure consistent quality in patient services.
Ezeh urged pharmacists to use the World Pharmacists Day platform to showcase their contributions to the health system.
He encouraged them to step up advocacy for the recognition of pharmacies as clinics under Nigeria’s primary care structure.
He reminded participants that the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) established World Pharmacists Day in 2009.
He noted that countries worldwide mark the day each year to highlight pharmacists’ achievements and their impact on health systems.