Community Pharmacists Seek Roadmap to Strengthen Healthcare Delivery, Policy Role

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has called for a practical roadmap to strengthen community pharmacy practice and position pharmacists as key contributors to healthcare policy and national development.

The call came ahead of the association's 45th Annual International Scientific Conference, tagged "Unity 2026," scheduled to hold in Abuja.

Speaking before the conference, ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose, described the event as a defining moment for the profession, saying it would provide a platform to reposition community pharmacists at the center of Nigeria's healthcare transformation.

He said pharmacists have taken on increasingly important responsibilities in expanding access to healthcare over the past decade and should be fully integrated into grassroots healthcare delivery and rural development initiatives.

"We need to develop a practical roadmap that will strengthen community pharmacy practice and position pharmacists as key contributors to healthcare policy and national development," Ambrose said.

He added that empowering community pharmacists would improve healthcare access, particularly in underserved communities, and strengthen the country's primary healthcare system.

Ambrose also highlighted the association's implementation of the Community Pharmacists Assessment and Career Progression Institute (CPACPI), a professional development framework endorsed by the International Pharmaceutical Federation.

According to him, the initiative provides pharmacists with a structured pathway for career advancement while promoting higher professional standards.

Also speaking, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, urged pharmacists to complement their technical expertise with active participation in public policy.

"Pharmacists must combine technical expertise with active policy engagement to influence healthcare governance and contribute meaningfully to national and global health targets," Ibrahim said.

The conference is expected to bring together pharmacists, policymakers and other healthcare stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving healthcare delivery and advancing the profession.