Pharmacists plan legal action over Nigeria’s social health insurance

Cynthia Ezekwe

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) says it plans to initiate legal action to enforce the implementation of the amended National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act of 2022.

The motive behind this action, the ACPN stated, is to address the widespread issue of inappropriate dispensing of medications under the country’s social health insurance scheme, as well as to ensure that healthcare professionals adhere to the guidelines stipulated in these acts.

ACPN disclosed the  plan at its  43rd annual national conference held recently in Ibadan, Oyo State, pointing out the need for proper dispensation of drugs within the social health insurance framework.

The conference provided a platform for the ACPN to address the issue of inappropriate dispensing of medications within the framework of the social health insurance scheme, emphasising the importance of strict adherence to the provisions of the NHIA and PCN Acts for the protection of public health and the welfare of patients.

The federal government passed the National Health Insurance Act of 2022 on May 19 2022. This legislation superseded the previously ineffective National Health Insurance Scheme Act of 1999, which had failed to enrol more than 10 percent of the country’s population in health insurance schemes.

The NHIA was enacted with the aim of overhauling the healthcare system by promoting, regulating, managing, and integrating health insurance practices in Nigeria.

In a concerning statement, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria highlighted a major issue within the country’s healthcare system, stating that drugs worth over one trillion naira had been dispensed without complying with the necessary legal provisions stipulated in the National Health Insurance Act.

Responding to this critical issue, the association urged its leadership to promptly consider taking legal action to ensure that the provisions of the amended NHIA Act and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act of 2022 are enforced.

This proposed action, according to the ACPN, is specifically directed at addressing the dispensing of drugs within the framework of social health insurance schemes in Nigeria, with a focus on enforcing appropriate dispensing practices.

The ACPN, during its conference, underscored the importance of policy shifts in the pharmaceutical sector, calling for a renewed focus on innovation and collaboration in community pharmacy practice. This, the association believed, would lead to more efficient and effective service delivery.

Furthermore, the ACPN emphasised the need for the federal government to pay greater attention to the numerous challenges hampering the full potential of the pharmaceutical sector. These challenges include a lack of proper coordination within the sector and the persistent issue of counterfeit and fake drugs, which pose serious risks to public health and undermine the credibility of the industry.

“The  government must show more commitment to unlocking the pharmaceutical sector’s value chain by addressing various challenges, such as fragmented coordination, the high incidence of unqualified personnel in the profession, the prevalence of counterfeit medicines due to poor implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG), the lack of technological adoption, and insufficient access to capital and infrastructure,’’ the association noted.

Addressing the growing concerns about the quality and safety of medications, the ACPN called for stronger regulatory controls to ensure that Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) guidelines are adhered to across the sector. In addition, the association proposed the establishment of federal and state-level task forces to tackle the issue of fake and counterfeit drugs, which have become a significant problem in the Nigerian pharmaceutical sector.

Amid rising public health concerns, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria urged the government to significantly increase funding for key agencies, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), to enhance their capacity to effectively carry out their mandates.

In addition, the association called for relief from the burdensome tariffs imposed on pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers. This plea for tax relief, according to the ACPN, is particularly important in light of the current surge in drug prices, which is exacerbating the affordability crisis faced by many patients.

To further emphasise the importance of quality drugs in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), ACPN called upon various levels of government to prioritise the availability of high-quality, safe, and effective medications.

In addition, the association recommended improving supply chain management by leveraging innovative solutions and fostering technology-driven collaborations between healthcare providers, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders. These proposed measures, according to the ACPN, are critical for improving access to essential drugs, reducing supply chain inefficiencies, and ultimately achieving the goal of Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.