The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria PSN says it would intensify its collaboration with relevant agencies to eradicate the distribution of fake and substandard drugs in the country.
Promise Anele gave this assurance in an interview with our correspondent as part of activities marking the 2024 World Pharmacy Day celebration on Wednesday.
World Pharmacist Day is observed every year on September 25, 2024, to honour and acknowledge pharmacists for their important contributions to enhancing world health.
The day also highlights the essential role pharmacists play in improving people's lives
However, the Chairman of PSN in Rivers State, Promise Anele told our correspondent that pharmacists in Rivers State are committed to improving the healthcare needs of Rivers people.
He assured them that pharmacists would continue to ensure that Nigerians consume safe drugs through its outlets in the state and the country.
“The issue of fake and substandard drugs is common and rampant and to be able to avoid that you need to pick up your drugs from the right source. As we the pharmacists continue to work hard to ensure that the quality of the medicine out there is good and it meets the health needs of the citizens” he said.
The Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria PSN in Rivers State Promise Anele also advised Nigerians always to access their drugs from only government approved drug outlets across the state.
He lamented that poor regulations are responsible for the high rate of distribution of fake and substandard drugs in Nigeria.
The Rivers PSN Chairman added that pharmacists in Nigeria are passionate about the safety of Nigerians who are exposed to different levels of fake and substandard drugs in the open drug market.
“As we celebrate this year’s event, I want to use this medium to call on the citizens to be mindful of where they pick up their drugs. Drugs are not like every other commodity that anybody who is not trained or professional or not licensed should handle. But because of poor regulations and all that happens that drugs are in the hands of the wrong people, thereby exposing innocent citizens to various levels of danger” he said
"I want to encourage the citizens to pick up their drugs from the registered pharmacy premises of government-approved health facilities," he said.
The theme for World Pharmacists Day 2024 is "Pharmacists: Meeting Global Health Needs"
