By Daniel Ayantoye
A fellow of the pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria(PSN) has disclosed that Kwara State has a ratio of one pharmacist to 40,000 patients, which is largely inadequate.
The fellow, Pharm. Folasade Olufunke Lawal made the disclosure as the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Pharmacy Week organised by the Kwara State Chapter of the society.
According to her, the ratio is below the standard provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of one pharmacist to 2,000 patients adding that shortage of pharmacists in a society leads to less productivity in the discharge of duties.
Speaking on the topic ‘Quality healthcare in economic recession: Role of Pharmacists’ Lawal who stated that healthcare is a fundamental human right and not a privilege, said that a nation in recession exposes its people to numerous health challenges.
While urging government at all levels to support the profession, the fellow said the roles of pharmacists in communities are enormous and tied to government support.
Meanwhile the Kwara State Commissioner for Health Alhaji Suleiman Alege has disclosed that Kwara is the only state in the country that is consistently recruiting health workers.
While declaring the event opened, the commissioner assured the society of state government’s commitment towards improving the welfare of pharmacists.
Earlier, the PSN Chairman in the state, Olayiwola Olusina disclosed that the essence of the event is to avail the society the opportunity to contribute to the health discourse of the state and make interventions to certain sectors of the society.
“We use this opportunity to enjoin the state government to pay attention to our perennial request for a review of the monthly take home of pharmacists working with them to encourage better retention.
“Government must also look into the drug supply system in the state with a view to prioritising purchase of drugs from pharmaceutical factories located within the state and to energise the drug revolving fund of the state by injecting more funds.”
