The Osun State Branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has called for an end to the open market selling of drugs in Nigeria. This call was made by the state chairman, Pharmacist Michael Ayodeji Omoniyi, during a press conference held to highlight the union’s activities for the 2024 Pharmacy Week, scheduled from September 23rd to 29th in Osogbo.
Pharmacist Omoniyi emphasized the need for the removal of tariffs on the importation of essential drug production commodities to promote local drug manufacturing in the country. He stated, “Such removal will reduce the cost of drugs in Nigeria.”
Addressing concerns over fake pharmacists, Omoniyi urged the public to be cautious and disregard social media reports claiming that a pharmacist had stolen drugs from the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) in Ile-Ife and sold them at his wife’s shop. He clarified that the individual involved was not a certified pharmacist, and the drugs were not stolen from OAUTHC as claimed.
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The chairman also highlighted that the PSN has a dedicated team of monitoring officers to ensure that only NAFDAC-approved drugs are sold to the public, noting that before the emergence of NAFDAC, nearly 80% of drugs produced in Nigeria were counterfeit.
As part of the Pharmacy Week activities, Pharmacist Omoniyi mentioned plans for a health walk, visits to orphanages, career talks, award presentations, Jumat service, and a thanksgiving service.
Additionally, the Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee, Pharmacist Nurudeen Ajibola Adebayo, warned Nigerians against the consumption of herbal concoctions, stating that these unregulated remedies could be harmful and even fatal. He pointed out that many individuals suffer from ailments, including kidney-related diseases, due to the indiscriminate intake of such roadside concoctions.
