Over 8,200 pharmacists have failed to renew their licenses in the last five years, with many migrating abroad in search of better working conditions, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has said
Conveying this in a press statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday Abuja ahead of its 98th Annual National Conference (DABO 2025) scheduled for November 3–8 at Bayero University, Kano, PSN President, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, urged the government to urgently address the issue in the national interest.
He accused the Federal Government of showing apathy and favouritism in the management of the nation’s health sector, warning that continued bias toward doctors at the expense of other professionals is breeding disunity, inefficiency, and a growing exodus of skilled pharmacists from the country.
“We call on the Federal Government to ensure fairness and equity among all health professionals. There has been too much bias in the management of our health system, and it is time to correct this,” Ibrahim said. “Pharmacy and other professions within the health sector deserve the same recognition, consideration, and opportunities to serve.”
The PSN President said the country’s health system can no longer thrive on “one-sided policies,” insisting that reforms must reward competence, not connections.
“The time has come to eliminate favoritism and bias in the sector. We need a health system that rewards competence, not connections,” he added. “Pharmacists play a crucial role in healthcare delivery, and their welfare must reflect that reality.”
The PSN also condemned what it described as institutional apathy and lopsidedness in health policy, particularly regarding remuneration and structure. Ibrahim faulted the proposed salary relativity between the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), calling it unjust and divisive.
“This proposal, if allowed, will further deepen inequality. The PSN will resist any attempt to trample on the rights of pharmacists and other health workers who sustain patient care and national health outcomes,” he warned.
He said:“Otherwise, it becomes meaningless to study any other health course apart from Medicine. Our wages must be parity-based, not relativity-based. The PSN and JOHESU will resist any attempt to entrench such an immoral and unlawful policy.”
He also punctured the Federal Government’s selective attention to healthcare development, saying pharmacists must be fully integrated into national health policy planning and implementation to achieve a sustainable and efficient system.
“Pharmacy is a critical pillar of healthcare delivery. Any government that marginalizes pharmacists or treats them as an afterthought is only weakening the foundation of the health sector,” he stressed.
He further condemned the proliferation of Universities of Medicine/Medical Sciences, describing the concept as “discriminatory and unconstitutional.”
“Naming institutions as Universities of Medicine sends the wrong message that medicine is superior to other health professions. Every discipline in healthcare is essential to quality service delivery,” Ibrahim said.
Highlighting key future events, the PSN President announced the Society’s upcoming Centenary Celebration (1927–2027) to commemorate a century of impact on Nigeria’s health and development landscape.
He added that this year’s DABO 2025 Conference, themed “Pharmacy Forward: Building a Future-Ready Workforce for Performance, Collaboration and Transformation,” will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and global health partners to chart a new direction for pharmacy in Nigeria.
