Community pharmacists in Nigeria are demanding swift action from the federal government to formally recognise their outlets as primary healthcare centres. Pharmacist Ambrose Ezeh, national chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), made the appeal in a statement on Tuesday.
Ezeh argued that pharmacies operating at community level play a vital role in expanding access to healthcare across the country. He stressed that their widespread presence and proximity to residents make them essential partners in the drive towards universal health coverage.
The ACPN boss called for pharmacists to be fully incorporated into grassroots health programmes and rural development schemes. According to him, this integration would strengthen health delivery and drive better outcomes for Nigerians in underserved areas.
"I reiterate the association's advocacy for the formal recognition of community pharmacies as primary healthcare centres," Ezeh noted. He emphasised that their accessibility and position on the frontlines of healthcare delivery make them indispensable assets in achieving universal health coverage.
The push for recognition reflects growing efforts to strengthen Nigeria's healthcare system by leveraging existing infrastructure and trained personnel already positioned in communities. ACPN believes formal status would unlock better coordination and resource allocation for these pharmacies.
