The state branch chairman, Pharmacist Olabode Ogunjemiro made the call on the occasion of the 2016 Pharmacists Day celebration held at the Pharmacy House in Akure, the state capital.
He lamented that the non-availability of FOREX has adversely affected the importation of active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished products into the country.
According to him: “In this current dispensation, the prices of pharmaceuticals have increased by at least 200% from what it was at the beginning of this year. Food has substitute, vegetable has substitute, but drugs have no substitute”.
While foreseein an unimaginable danger that the situation might cause, Ogunjemiro therefore tasked the federal government to review its FOREX policy in the interest of the health of Nigerians.
On the alleged neglect of the agitations of the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, by the Federal Ministry of health and its labour and productivity, Pharmacists Ogunjemiro explained that members have since 2014 persevered enough by refusing to embark on strike despite the growing need to do so.
He said: “The patience of JOHESU is gradually running out, and may be left with no option than to go on strike as several meetings proposed were cancelled without prior notice. I therefore call on the federal government to attend to the yearnings of JOHESU to avert impending strike”.
In a remark, the governor of Ondo state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko who congratulated the pharmacists on the celebration urged them not to see their job as mere throwing drug to patient but a robust interaction with the patient on how the drug will translate to effective treatment.
Represented by his commissioner for health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, the governor also urged them to join forces with the government in its fight against fake and counterfeit drugs.
“We must continue to fight against fake and counterfeit drugs to standstill. For us as government, we pay attention to what our people consume so that they don’t consume mere chalk but ingredients that will improve their health.
“Another step we are taking is that in ensuring that we don’t allow the handling of drug to anybody, we are intending to reactivate our training for pharmacy technicians to ensure that anybody who will handle drugs will have some element of knowledge about what he should do”.
In his goodwill message, the Alaani of Idoani, Major General Olufemi Olutoye (RTD) who doubled as chairman of the occasion challenged the pharmaceutical society to do more in ridding the profession off quackery and also intensify war against fake and counterfeit drugs.
The even feature presentation of awards as Governor Mimiko led other distinguished Nigerian to receive the society’s special awards.
