In order to sanitise the health sector, particularly in the area of drug prescription, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has called for the establishment of the National Prescription Policy for the country.
National Chairman of ACPN who made the call in a letter to the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa reasoned that a situation where both healthcare professionals and charlatans in the country are prescribing and dispensing medicines doesn’t augur well for consumers of health.
The letter titled ‘ A National Prescription Policy for Nigeria’, was signed by the National Chairman of ACPN, Wale Oladigbolu and the National Secretary of the association, Omokhafe Ashore.
Highlighting why the prescription Policy should be in place, the duo said, “It is globally accepted that drug use constitutes a significant aspect of health care and that the handling of drugs in all its ramifications, particularly the production, distribution, prescription and dispensing of drugs could have a positive or negative impact on the health care delivery system and the health of the population.
“This explains why countries are expected to pay due emphasis on drug use in their respective countries.” Similarly, they noted that the prescribing and dispensing of medicines are regulated by laws of the Federal Government, especially the PPA Cap 535 LFN 1990 and the PCN Act 2022.
According to Oladigbolu and Ashore, some efforts made by the Federal Government as regards prescribing and dispensing of medicines in the recent past include the introduction of the National Drug Policy (NDP) and the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDGs).
The duo however affirmed that there is an urgent need for a National Prescription Policy (NPP) which the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare (FMoH&SW) is currently undertaking.
Previous law The current law regarding prescribing medicines in Nigeria states that only a trained medical doctor, dentist or veterinary doctor may prescribe medicines. Likewise, such prescriptions can only be dispensed by a registered pharmacist from a registered premise.
Unfortunately, they lamented that the reality of prescribing and dispensing medicines in Nigeria is such that both licensed healthcare professionals and charlatans are prescribing and dispensing medicines, sometimes with dire consequences.
Other climes It’s important to state that in developed countries, the prescribing and dispensing process is carried out by an appropriate practitioner who can be medical doctors, veterinary doctors, dentists, optometrists, pharmacists and nurses. Some pharmacists and nurses are also granted limited prescription rights under strict conditions/written guidelines/protocol after undergoing a strict, rigorous training programme.
“Most of the dispensing in developed countries is carried out by registered pharmacists in registered premises, but doctors and nurses are allowed to dispense certain medications within a written protocol.
These processes, in addition to the implementation of electronic prescribing, has increased access of patients to healthcare professionals and ensures that patients are receiving appropriate medical care. The national chairman and national secretary of the ACPN however listed various factors contributing to inappropriate and illegal
prescribing and dispensing of drugs in Nigeria to include inability of patients to afford doctor’s consultation fees; lack of a structured National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) that patients can benefit from; access of the public to appropriately qualified and registered healthcare professionals especially in the rural areas; inadequate healthcare facilities; poor government funding of the healthcare industry; high level of illiteracy among the populace; and lack of enforcement of the law governing prescribing and dispensing of medicines.
Others are lack of a professional working partnership between healthcare professionals; lack of standardisation of prescriptions with no way to verify the prescription being presented; and inadequate planning and monitoring.
While they noted that these factors are certainly not insurmountable, Oladigbolu and Ashore said, “It is hoped that the relevant players will synergise their efforts with a view to evolving a working NPP in the public interest as currently championed by the National Prescription Policy Committee of the FMoH&SW.
In order to achieve the goals of the NPP in Nigeria, the ACPN proposed that the FMoH&SW should appoint a pharmaceutical consultant who must be a registered pharmacist and a medical consultant who must be a licensed medical practitioner within the purview of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act 2022 and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN Act.
“These appointments may be made in consultation with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) which is the umbrella templates of the prime stakeholders connected with the NPP. Oladigbolu and Ashore said, “Minister, we strongly urge you to continue to walk on the path of progress the FMoH&SW has embarked on with regards to the NPP project.
The ACPN however assures that it will join other progressively minded stakeholders to collaborate with the FMoH&SW “as we look forward to the speedy conclusion of this national assignment in about three months from now.”
The Nigeria National Prescription policy, the standardised prescription forms will not only reduce the instances of inappropriate drug use but also enhance monitoring and control mechanisms within our healthcare system.” “This is a critical step towards safeguarding public health.” “This explains why countries are expected to pay due emphasis on drug use in their respective countries.
Hence, the prescribing and dispensing of medicines are regulated by laws of the Federal Government of Nigeria especially the PPA Cap 535 LFN 1990 and the PCN Act 2022. Although, the current law regarding prescribing medicines in Nigeria states that only a trained medical doctor, dentist or veterinary doctor may prescribe medicines. Likewise, such prescriptions can only be dispensed by a registered pharmacist from a registered premise.