Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria Calls for End to Marginalisation of Non-Physician Health Professionals

Strategic Insights -

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has issued a public memorandum to President Bola Tinubu, calling for an immediate end to what it described as the "institutionalised marginalisation" of non-physician health professionals across Nigeria's education and health sectors. The memorandum, signed by ACPN's National Chairman, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, accuses the Federal Government of yielding to "blackmail tactics" by physician-dominated associations such as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), and the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The ACPN alleges that these associations pressure the government into appointments that violate extant regulations, such as the National Universities Commission's (NUC) requirement for Vice-Chancellors to hold a Ph.D.

Key Takeaways:

  • The ACPN accuses the Federal Government of "institutionalised marginalisation" of non-physician health professionals, citing instances of physician-dominated associations using "blackmail tactics" to pressure the government into appointments that violate extant regulations.
  • The ACPN alleges that physician-associations successfully pressured the government to nullify a Vice-Chancellor appointment at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) and down tools at the University of Calabar (UNICAL).
  • The pharmacists' association condemns the "thrive culture of blackmail" that enforces physician monopoly in positions such as Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) of Federal Health Institutions (FHIs), Provosts of Colleges of Medicine, and Vice-Chancellors of health-focused universities.
  • The ACPN raises alarm over disparities in remuneration, citing that physician-lecturers who double as hospital consultants earn nearly twice as much as their non-physician counterparts.
  • The association also accuses hospital CEOs, mostly physicians, of incompetence and abuse of power, referencing a recent incident at the Specialist Hospital, Irrua.
  • The ACPN decries the Federal Government's continued failure to implement inclusive, effective health policies and calls for the establishment of a Federal Drug Management Agency to ensure transparent and effective supply chain management.

Statistics:

  • 73 federal health institutions in Nigeria have reportedly experienced total power outages in the first quarter of 2025 due to unpaid bills to power distribution companies.
  • Almost 50% of physician-lecturers earn nearly twice as much as their non-physician counterparts.
  • The Federal Government has yet to implement inclusive, effective health policies.

Sources:

  • Memorandum from the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria to President Bola Tinubu (no date)
  • National Universities Commission (NUC) regulations (no date)
  • Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) statements (no date)
  • National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) statement (no date)
  • Specialist Hospital, Irrua, incident report (no date)
  • National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) statement (no date)
  • Ministry of Health's endorsement of the MEDIPOOL initiative for drug procurement (no date)