Pharmacists across Nigeria must urgently embrace technology to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, Pharm. John Omale has said.
Speaking at the opening of the 3-day ‘Business Summit 3.0’ organized by the Abuja chapter of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) on Tuesday, Omale stressed that outdated practices can no longer address today’s challenges.
‘Our practices as professionals must evolve to remain meaningful and effective. We cannot continue doing things the same way and expect different results. Technology must be at the heart of that transformation,’ he said.
Delivering the keynote address on the theme ‘Technology Infusion in Healthcare Practices: The Panacea for the Future of Community Pharmacy’, Omale argued that digital tools are no longer optional, stressing, ‘Technology enables us to solve problems, improve efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth.
‘However, we must also recognize that the market, regulations, and mainstream practices are shifting. To survive and thrive, we must adapt, innovate, and adopt standards that ensure quality and profitability without compromising ethical values.’
He linked sustainability in pharmacy to innovation and problem-solving, not inefficiency, ‘Money flows to solutions. When we solve problems effectively, opportunities and resources naturally follow
‘Stronger reliance on data-driven decision-making, collaboration, and innovation is the only way to go,’ Omale said.
Omale highlighted the growing complexity of modern healthcare, stressing the need for patient-specific care and safety in drug use.
‘Technology can help us manage these complexities, improve patient safety, and deliver higher-quality services,’ he noted.
He warned that the benefits of technology would not materialize without investment in people, emphasizing, ‘We must also prioritize training and continuous learning.
‘The world of healthcare is dynamic, and professionals must stay ahead of developments in science, technology, and regulation. Only then can we build a system where every patient receives appropriate, safe, and effective treatment’.
On the challenges facing the profession, Omale identified outdated practices, resistance to change, inadequate standardization, limited access to digital tools, and gaps in regulatory compliance and ethical delivery.
‘Our collective goal should be to modernize our systems, standardize practices, and ensure ethical service delivery. By embracing change and adopting new tools, we can transform healthcare into a system that is patient-centred and sustainable for the future,’ he noted.
The chairman of ACPN, FCT chapter, Aloba Olatunji, described the summit as a platform to empower members and sustain continuous professional learning.
‘As professionals, we don’t stop learning. This summit is designed to put knowledge back into our members, helping us adapt to what is trending in society. The theme for this year is ‘Technological Infusion into Healthcare Practice,” he said.
He noted that while artificial intelligence is being projected as a disruptor, Africa’s peculiar health realities mean pharmacists remain indispensable.
‘Pharmacists in Africa deal with tropical medicine, which technology cannot fully replace. Our members need to be empowered to integrate technology into their practice,’ he explained.
He said an incentive initiative put in place during the summit was necessary to support members facing difficult business environments.
‘Some of our members are doing well, while others are not. Collectively, many are struggling. Information is power, so we need to constantly pass it across so they can blend with what is happening in society,’ he said.
Olatunji also appealed to Nigerians to be patient with government reforms and always seek professional guidance in drug use.
‘A beautiful diagnosis without the right drug, dose, and duration will not give you a beautiful result,’ he cautioned.
On drug regulation, he assured, ‘No pharmacy manned by a licensed pharmacist will dispense prescription drugs irrationally. Your license is at stake. On fake and substandard drugs, ACPN is working with NAFDAC and NDLEA to ensure they are flushed out of society.’
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Board of Pharmacist Fellows for Abuja and Nasarawa commended ACPN for hosting the summit, describing it as ‘a valuable platform to advance pharmacy practice.’
He urged members to ‘remain focused on professional goals despite distractions’ and stressed the importance of unity in pursuing common objectives.
Also delivering goodwill on behalf of the NDLEA FCT Commandant, a representative reaffirmed the agency’s close partnership with pharmacists, calling them the ‘frontline interface with the people.’
He warned of the rising tide of substance abuse and stressed that pharmacists must play an ethical role in preventing misuse.
He commended ACPN for creating a platform to strengthen collaboration, saying the summit was vital in ‘tackling substance abuse and promoting responsible healthcare delivery.’
The empowerment incentives, sponsored by one of the stakeholders, include cars, televisions, refrigerators, and other consolation prizes, while the FCT chapter also packaged inverters for members to power their premises in case of outages.