The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has urged the Federal Government to officially designate community pharmacies as Primary Health Care (PHC) centres nationwide.
The call was made during the celebration of the 2025 World Pharmacists Day, themed “Think Health, Think Pharmacist,” at the ACPN National Secretariat.
Pharm. Ambrose Ezeh, National Chairman of ACPN, stressed that community pharmacists are often the first point of contact for patients and play a critical role in healthcare delivery. He highlighted their contributions in offering free consultations, providing guidance on medication safety, disease management, and public health advocacy.
Ezeh noted that community pharmacists are instrumental in vaccination drives, health screenings, chronic disease management, and public health education. He added that their involvement in policy development, telehealth, and collaboration with other healthcare providers strengthens the nation’s healthcare system.
As part of the World Pharmacist Day celebrations, ACPN launched the “Pharmacy Forward: Performance, Collaboration, and Health Transformation” initiative. The programme aims to create structured career progression pathways for community pharmacists, enhance professional development, and ensure high-quality patient care.
Under the initiative, a new career advancement scheme was introduced, comprising five levels: Community Pharmacist, Senior Community Pharmacist, Community Pharmacist Specialist, Community Pharmacist Senior Specialist, and Community Pharmacist Consultant.
Ezeh expressed optimism that the initiative would improve health outcomes and professional satisfaction among community pharmacists, while also encouraging advocacy, research, and global health participation.
