Appolonia Adeyemi 
…say legislation has potential to create chaos in health sector
Pharmacists under the Young Pharmacists Group (YPG), an affiliate of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), have raised serious concerns over the recent passage of a bill by the House of Representatives to establish the Pharmaceutical Technologists and Pharmacy Technicians Council. The group argued that the move would destabilise the nation’s already fragile healthcare system.
In a press statement, the YPG Chairman, Pharm. Tekena George urged the Senate to reject the bill and prevent its progression to the President for assent. They also called on the Senate President to intervene, emphasising that the passage of the bill would waste taxpayers’ money and further strain the health sector.
“This is a call for patriotism and national consciousness. Legislative actions must prioritise the well-being of citizens above all.” The YPG therefore warned that failure to act decisively could plunge Nigeria’s healthcare sector into unprecedented chaos, eroding public trust and jeopardising lives.
George described the development as a “disastrous oversight” and accused lawmakers of ignoring expert advice and evidence presented by key stakeholders. “The passage of this bill disregards years of legislative consultations and research that highlighted its potential to create chaos in the health sector,” George said.
George explained that the contentious bill has been on the legislative agenda since 1999, drawing widespread criticism during its public hearing in 2018.
Stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), warned that the bill’s provisions duplicate the functions of the already established Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN).
Furthermore, the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) had advised lawmakers against pursuing the bill, citing comprehensive research that underscored its redundancy and potential for harm. Despite these warnings, the House of Representatives recently passed the bill during a session chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
The YPG also highlighted that the concept of pharmaceutical technology, as proposed in the bill, conflicts with global practices.
In countries like South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, pharmacy regulatory bodies oversee pharmacy technicians as a subcadre of the pharmacy profession.
The group pointed out that Nigeria’s Ministry of Education and the PCN had already signed a 2024 agreement to abolish the training of pharmaceutical technologists in the country.
“This bill undermines these agreements and will introduce confusion into the healthcare system, creating overlapping responsibilities and unnecessary regulatory burdens,” George said.
