Lack of pharmaceutical care responsible for low health index in Nigeria – CPAN

CPAN stated that pharmacies should be used as immunisation centres just like in countries with better sector performanc e.g UK, Ghana e.t.c

Ahead of World Pharmacists Day (WPD), pharmacists under the aegis of Clinical Pharmacists Association of Nigeria (CPAN) have  established that the absolute lack of adequate pharmaceutical care in health facilities is almost majorly responsible for Nigeria’s low health index.”

The celebration is titled “Pharmaceutical Care is The Right of Every Nigerian”.

WPD is celebrated yearly on September 25th.

National Chairman, CPAN, Dr. Joseph Madu, explained that it is indisputable that majority of patients/clients who visit healthcare facilities get  drugs, but sadly enough they do not receive the expected accompanying and attention of pharmaceutical care.

“Scientifically speaking, pharmaceutical care is not, and never optional inpatient care. Rather it is the right of every patient or client if we considered the potentially dangerous nature of drugs (so-called medicines).” He added

“An example is the fact that a simple way to poison or damage the kidneys is to take common pain killers (NSAIDs) simultaneously with water pills (diuretics). He said

“An untrained personnel may not be aware of this potentially dangerous drug interaction during dispensing. All they know is that they can give pain killers to relieve pain and diuretics to increase water loss from the body.”