Dep Gov Harps On Pharmacists, Physicians’ Cordial Working Relationship

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has stressed the need for practising pharmacists and medical doctors in Nigeria to work more closely in tackling the health needs of the people.
The Deputy Governor gave the charge at a dinner and award ceremony organised by the state branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) as part of activities marking this year’s World Pharmacists’ Day in Yenagoa.
Ewhrudjakpo noted that effective collaboration between members of the two professions would go a long way in addressing the challenges confronting the health sector of the country.
Describing the pharmaceutical profession as dear and indispensable, Ewhrudjakpo urged pharmacists to guide medical doctors in the prescription of drugs to enable patients procure the right drugs, save cost and prevent unnecessary deaths.
He charged members of the PSN to adopt what he called the three-prong approach of advocacy, legal reforms and assertiveness in seeking solution to the problems besetting the profession.
He noted that the existing legal regulatory framework in the health sector needed to be reviewed to give more roles and powers to pharmacists to enable them discharge their statutory duties effectively.
Responding to the issue of shortage of pharmacists in the state public service, Ewhrudjakpo promised that government would look into the matter and take necessary steps to address it.
 ”Our society needs to grow, and all of us need to put our hands on deck for society to grow. The pharmacy profession is one that is quite dear to all of us. I will encourage us to take the issue of pharmacy very seriously and practise it the way it ought to be practised.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa