VC Tasks Pharmacists On Research, Entrepreneurship

The Vice Chancellor of

the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph Ajeinka has called on the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) to lay a foundation based on research and entrepreneurship towards building bridges of co-operation between it and the public at large.

Prof. Ajeinka who chaired the opening of the PSN Pharmacy Week 2011 in Port Harcourt yesterday assured that UNIPORT would collaborate with the Pharmacists in every aspect of their activities.

He noted that the issue of cardiac related cases abounds in the universities and called on PSN to take a pro-active approach to tackle the trend.

The PSN National President, Azubike Okwor appealed to his members to take advantage of the potentials available and be able to make the right decision in pricing, prescription and administration of drugs to the public.

The PSN president said that so far, there are six Nigerian Vice-Chancellors who are pharmacists and advocated for competence and ability to perform in the health sector rather than the straight jacketed approach of “it must be a trained doctor.”

Earlier, the Rivers chairman of the PSN, Mrs Elizabeth Odili had lauded the Rivers State government for inaugurating the taskforce on fake and counterfeit drugs in the state.

Mrs Odili who is also a member of the taskforce appealed to Governor Rotimi Amaechi to increase the grant to the taskforce to enable the committee perform effectively.

She also made case for the setting up of a committee for drugs purchase in order to make for competitive bidding in the process of drug purchase and procurement in the state.