Health
WAPCP seeks full implementation of consultant pharmacist cadre to curb medication errors
Angela Onwuzoo
The West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists, Nigeria Chapter, has urged the Federal and state governments to fully implement the consultant pharmacist cadre across their health institutions to reduce medication errors and improve patient safety.
WAPCP said the demand was critical if Nigeria is to tackle the irrational use of medicines, adding that Nigerians stand to benefit immensely from the policy, which prioritises patient safety.
The college expressed concern over the refusal of some chief executive officers of federal health institutions to comply with the Federal Government’s circular approving the consultant pharmacist cadre.
The Federal Government, in September 2020, issued a circular approving the Scheme of Service for the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre in the Federal Civil Service.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Monday ahead of the College’s 8th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting, scheduled to hold from July 12 to 14, 2026, at the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria Auditorium, Yaba, Lagos, Chairman of the WAPCP Nigeria Chapter, Dr Afusat Adesina, said the consultant pharmacist cadre has come to stay because of its enormous benefits in promoting the rational use of medicines, patient safety and quality healthcare.
Adesina said the conference, themed “Expanding Consultant Pharmacists’ Clinical Roles in Nigeria to Optimize Patient Care and Medication Safety,” would address critical issues affecting the pharmacy profession, including medicine security, reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines, strengthening local pharmaceutical manufacturing and improving medication safety.
She said the conference would also feature sub-themes, including “Leveraging Health Technology and Data Systems to Improve Medication Safety, Medicine Quality and Therapeutic Outcomes in Nigeria” and “Strengthening Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing in Nigeria for Medicine Security, Quality and Sustainable Patient Care.”
According to her, the conference is designed to promote safer medication use and improve patient outcomes.
“When taking medications, patient safety should always come first. The best way to ensure that is by obtaining medicines from the right outlets and seeking advice from registered pharmacists and specialist pharmacists,” she said.
Adesina said the establishment of the consultant pharmacist cadre reflects the growing recognition of pharmacists’ critical role in healthcare delivery.
She, however, lamented that many health institutions and state governments were yet to domesticate and implement the initiative despite its far-reaching benefits in pharmaceutical care and the promotion of the safe, effective and individualised use of medicines.
The pharmacist explained that consultant pharmacists contribute significantly to patient safety by identifying and resolving drug-related problems such as medication errors, adverse drug reactions and poor medication adherence.
She added that they play a vital role in managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and heart failure by educating patients, monitoring their progress and supporting adherence to treatment plans.
“They provide counselling, improve medication adherence, educate patients and support them in following their treatment regimens, leading to better health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs,” she said.
Adesina further noted that consultant pharmacists actively participate in medication safety initiatives, including medication reconciliation and drug interaction checks, to minimise medication errors.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee of the 8th Scientific Conference of the WAPCP Nigeria Chapter, Dr Abubakar Danraka, said this year’s edition marks the first time the College is organising a full-fledged scientific conference.
He disclosed that the organisers received about 21 scientific abstracts, including 12 for poster presentations and eight for oral presentations.
Danraka said the conference would also feature two capacity-building workshops aimed at strengthening the skills of specialist pharmacists.
“As specialist pharmacists, knowledge is dynamic, while trends in treatment and healthcare continue to evolve. Learning and relearning are therefore essential to improving specialist practice,” he said.
“One workshop focuses on the use of artificial intelligence tools to strengthen research and specialist pharmacy practice. The second focuses on antimicrobial stewardship by equipping pharmacists with the skills needed to tackle antimicrobial resistance resulting from the irrational use of medicines.”
According to him, pharmacists are at the forefront of promoting the rational use of medicines.
“How do you monitor and track medicine use in hospitals and community pharmacies? How do you close the gaps that encourage the irrational use of antibiotics? These capacity-building workshops are designed to address those gaps and strengthen pharmacy practice,” he added.
Speaking on poor communication between patients and pharmacists, Danraka said the consultant pharmacist cadre would improve patient engagement and ensure specialist pharmaceutical care.
“That is exactly what we want to change. Every patient interaction in the hospital should involve the appropriate specialist. The role of a pharmacist is not limited to dispensing medicines, especially for patients with chronic illnesses or those on long-term medications.
“The consultant pharmacist cadre approved by the Federal Government is intended to ensure Nigerians benefit from specialist pharmaceutical care. Where the policy is not implemented, it remains business as usual, with pharmacists restricted to dispensing medicines rather than providing specialist medication management. We do not think that is in the best interest of Nigerians.
“Patients need direct access to medication experts because many factors affect how medicines work, including what they eat, when they take their medicines, and possible interactions with other medicines or even certain fruits.
“A specialist pharmacist goes beyond dispensing medicines. They monitor patients, explain how medicines should be taken—whether on an empty stomach, with water only or away from certain foods and beverages—and help manage adverse drug reactions and other medication-related concerns. Health facilities need to implement this policy so Nigerians can access the specialist pharmaceutical care that consultant pharmacists are trained to provide,” he said.
Danraka disclosed that about 42 of the country’s 82 federal health institutions have implemented the consultant pharmacist cadre policy, while only five of the 36 states have adopted it.
“Where the policy has been implemented, we are already seeing best practices and improved patient outcomes.
“States and health facilities that have yet to implement it are denying their citizens access to specialist pharmaceutical care that can minimise medication errors, promote the rational use of medicines and improve health outcomes,” he said.
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