The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has hailed the governor of Lagos state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for the creation of pharmacists’ consultancy cadre in the Scheme of Service of Lagos state.
The state government has issued a circular approving the consultancy cadre which the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) had kicked against.
The PSN however bemoaned the decision of the NMA for requesting the withdrawal of the circular.
National President of PSN, Ahmed Yakasai and Secretary, Emeka Duru in a statement said the pharmacy consultancy cadre, as approved by Lagos State Government in the service of scheme is the best thing the health sector can achieve.
According to the duo, Lagos State Government is absolutely in line with harmony and inter-professional needs to attain international best practices in the healthcare delivery system.
Giving instances of countries with the best health care system like France, Italy, USA where the Health Ministers are not medical doctors, PSN reiterated that the worldwide performance index is dependent on neutrality and administrative prowess and not on ‘medical qualification’.
“Incidentally, the Director General of World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhamon, an Ethiopian, studied Biology. If he, and all those above, were in Nigeria, NMA would have protested.
“This is the situation the NMA of Lagos is attempting, and writing to a Governor as knowledgeable as HE Ambode Akinwunmi – a distinguished administrator who knows his onions and is committed to advance mankind.
“The criterion for selection in these great and successful countries is based on professional and administrative experience and this is the same down the administrative structure. In Nigeria, the criteria for selection are solely based on MBBS qualification and it is also the same down the administrative structure. Does that tell you the reason(s) for failure?
“PSN shall not relent in promoting the health sector in Nigeria. We commend the Lagos state Government for this bold action of international best practice”, the statement said.
It said the barrier and superiority mentality has deepened the health sector woes in Nigeria, making the system poorly ranked among its counterparts in the world.
“Among the 191 WHO member countries, Nigeria is sadly ranked 189 in healthcare service provision. It is very obvious that in Nigeria, healthcare service delivery is averse to change,” it further stated.