Date: 2018-09-26

PHARMACEUTICAL Society of Nigeria (PSN), Kwara state branch has called on the state government to urgently address the acute shortage of pharmacists in state hospitals and Ministry of Health facilities to promote sound health.

Speaking at an occasion marking the World Pharmacists Day in Ilorin on Tuesday, chairman of the PSN in the state, Mr Ali Bakau, said that about 220 pharmacists are required to man a total number of government health facilities in the state.

Represented by the vice chairman, Mr Abusaeed Kamaldeen, the PSN chairman said that there are only 18 pharmacists manning 44 government health facilities in the state, adding that Nigeria population of about 170 million has only 17,000 pharmacists to take care of the population.

The association, which said that the number of pharmacists in the state was grossly inadequate, added that an average of five pharmacists was required in every health facility in the state to make the populace feel the impact of the professionals.

The PSN official, who lamented the alarming rate of drug abuse in the society, identified students as people mostly involved in the menace.

He said that the development had led to increasing rate of rape cases in the society, including other social vices as part of consequences of drug abuse.

Mr Kamaldeen also called on the state government to promote enabling environment for local pharmaceutical manufacturers to enhance the growth of pharmaceutical industry, "which in turn can contribute to positive economy of the country."

The PSN chairman, who implored members of the public to always seek services of pharmacists when they have anything to do with medicines, also discouraged self-medication and drug abuse among people.