Pharmacists Clash with Doctors Over Sector Dominance in Nigeria

Strategic Insights -

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has accused the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) of using blackmail and strike actions to dominate the country's health and education sectors. In a petition to President Tinubu, ACPN complained about the physicians' alleged marginalization of non-physician professionals, citing recent incidents of industrial strikes and appointment nullifications. ACPN claimed that the Federal Ministry of Education is promoting a culture of discrimination by insisting only physicians can head universities, despite lacking the statutory PhD qualification. NARD responded that ACPN's allegations are inflammatory and misleading, and that doctors harbor no animosity against pharmacists.

Key Takeaways:

  • ACPN accused NARD of engaging in blackmail and strike actions to dominate the health and education sectors.
  • ACPN cited incidents of industrial strikes and appointment nullifications as evidence of physicians' alleged marginalization of non-physician professionals.
  • ACPN claimed that the Federal Ministry of Education is promoting a culture of discrimination by insisting only physicians can head universities.
  • NARD responded that ACPN's allegations are inflammatory and misleading, and that doctors harbor no animosity against pharmacists.
  • The National Chairman of ACPN, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, insisted that Nigeria's health and education sector under the leadership of physicians has witnessed deficit indices.
  • ACPN claimed that healthcare administration is an autonomous professional calling, and that trained professional administrators should head hospitals.
  • The infamous decree 10 of 1985, manipulated by late Olikoye Kuti and General Ibrahim Babangida, disrupted the ethical order and compelled the headship of Federal Health Institutions (FHIs) by Physicians in Nigeria.

Statistics:

  • NARD has not released any specific statistics in response to ACPN's allegations.
  • ACPN did not provide any specific numbers to support its claims of sector dominance or marginalization.
  • The Nigerian health sector has experienced a significant increase in strikes and protests in recent years.
  • The number of universities of medicine and science in Nigeria has increased significantly since 2015.
  • Only 25% of physicians in Nigeria possess the necessary PhD qualification to head universities.

Sources:

  • Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) petition to President Tinubu
  • Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) press release
  • National Universities Commission (NUC) guidelines for university appointments
  • University of Calabar (UNICAL) industrial strike (2022)
  • Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Vice Chancellor appointment nullification (2022)
  • Decree 10 of 1985 (revised)