Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has raised alarm over what it described as the growing incidence of illegal pharmaceutical practices within several Federal Health Institutions (FHIs), calling on the Federal Government to urgently sanction those involved.
National Chairman of the association, Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma made the call on Friday, condemning what he termed the persistent disregard for professional and legal standards by some pharmaceutical companies and their superintendent pharmacists, who allegedly operate unlawfully within public hospitals often with the tacit approval of hospital managements and regulatory bodies.
Ezeh faulted the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) for allegedly turning a blind eye while unregistered private pharmacy operators take over drug distribution roles in federal hospitals under various Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.
He cited the ministry’s earlier experiments with models such as Medipool, describing them as ‘unlawful ventures that have created loopholes in the public drug distribution system.’
According to him, the statutory framework guiding the supply and management of drugs in public hospitals remains anchored on Decree 43 of 1989 (now Cap 252 LFN 2004), which established the Essential Drug List and the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF).
He stressed that for the DRF to function effectively, pharmacists must have full control over procurement, distribution, and management, as clearly outlined in the DRF manuals.
Ezeh, however, lamented that over the years, many Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) and Medical Directors (MDs) have allegedly mismanaged DRF resources, resulting in persistent stock-outs and erratic drug availability in most federal hospitals.
He recalled the success story of the Department of Pharmacy, National Orthopaedic Hospital (NOH), Igbobi, which he described as the most successful DRF model in the country. Under pharmacist leadership, the department built a ?200 million pharmacy complex in 2014 without compromising the DRF account.
‘No other professional group or institution has matched such a landmark achievement,’ he said, regretting that despite ACPN’s repeated warnings between 2020 and 2022, the Federal Ministry of Health failed to intervene as irregularities began to erode the model’s integrity.
The ACPN listed several FHIs where illegal PPP pharmacy models are allegedly operating, including UCH Ibadan, UDUTH Sokoto, AKTH Kano, National Hospital Abuja, NAUTH Nnewi, JUTH Jos, FMCs in Makurdi, Umuahia, Jabi and Nguru, ISTH Irua, and UMTH Maiduguri.
The association noted multiple breaches of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act 2022, particularly: Section 22(1) taht states that only registered and inspected pharmacies may store, sell or dispense medicines; Section 27(5) that says ó rivate pharmacies are prohibited from operating inside public health facilities; Section 29: Every pharmacy must be under the direct control of a superintendent pharmacist; and Section 54: Running an unregistered pharmacy constitutes a criminal offence.
Ezeh further accused some FHIs of violating the Public Procurement Act 2007, which mandates transparency and competition in procurement processes. He alleged that over 20 pharmacy premises operating under PPP arrangements are not registered, with one ‘particularly aggressive company’ in Lagos reportedly taking over the pharmacy unit of a major teaching hospital while invoking the names of senior government officials to legitimise its actions.
The ACPN issued a strong warning to superintendent pharmacists whose practising licences are being used to back questionable operations, giving them until the end of 2025 to regularise their status or face disciplinary action from the association in 2026.
The association also said it would push for wider sanctions through regulatory authorities under the Consumer Protection and Trade Malpractices Act.
Reaffirming the ACPN’s commitment to restoring integrity in drug distribution, Ezeh maintained that addressing drug scarcity, ensuring security of medicines, and strengthening Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain require supporting local manufacturers through credit guarantees and fair procurement processes.
He emphasised the need to protect DRF accounts as legitimate working capital lines and to uphold Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) across all 73 FHIs nationwide.
Ezeh warned that financing gaps and irregular systems continue to weaken the quality, equity, and access to essential medicines in public hospitals, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare to order.
‘We must restore sanity, legality and professionalism in drug distribution in the public sector. The health of the Nigerian people depends on it,’ he said.