Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has stressed the need for pharmacists and doctors to work together in tackling people’s health needs.
He spoke at the weekend in Yenagoa at a dinner and award ceremony organised by the state branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), as part of activities to mark this year’s World Pharmacists’ Day.
Ewhrudjakpo said collaboration between members of the two professions would address the challenges confronting the health sector.
Describing pharmacy as dear and indispensable, he urged pharmacists to guide doctors in the prescription of drugs, to enable patients procure the right drugs, save cost and prevent deaths.
The deputy governor advised PSN members to adopt what he called the three-pronged approach of advocacy, legal reforms and assertiveness in seeking solution to the problems facing the profession.
He said the legal regulatory framework in the health sector needed to be reviewed to give more roles and power to pharmacists, to enable them discharge their duties.
Responding to shortage of pharmacists in the public service, Ewhrudjakpo said the government would look into the matter and take steps to address it.
He said: “Our society needs to grow. All of us need to put our hands on deck for our society to grow. Pharmacy is one that is quite dear to all of us. I will encourage us to take the issue of pharmacy seriously and practise it the way it ought to be practised.
“I think we need to push a little bit of the frontiers of our demands. Pharmacists are supposed to guide doctors in the prescription and dispensation of drugs. But this is not the case in Nigeria.
“Pharmacists and doctors in this country have to work more closely even in the areas of jointly examining patients and proffering solutions to our health challenges.
“As I said, the world is meant for those who fight for their rights. You need to speak more, act more and do more. This world is a world of competition, which brings about desires. You can achieve this on the three fronts of advocacy, legal reforms and assertiveness.”
The state Chairman, PSN, Mr. Ronari Owaba, emphasised the need for proper staffing of pharmacy departments in health institutions, to carry out prescription, education and counselling services.
Owaba, who described the 2021 Pharmacy Day theme: ‘Pharmacy Always Trusted for Your Health’, as timely, thanked Ewhrudjakpo for supporting PSN programmes.
Presenting a special award to the deputy governor on behalf of the PSN, Mr. Daniel Orumwese appealed to the government to employ more pharmacists to satisfy manpower requirements in the service.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of Recognition of Outstanding Support Award and the PSN Drugs Matter Magazine to Ewhrudjakpo.
