5,000 pharmacists converge on Abia for 90th conference

The President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ahmed Yakasai yesterday assured members of adequate security as the society hosts the 90th Annual National Conference in Umuahia, Abia state this week.

About 5,000 pharmacists and scientists from Nigeria and the Diaspora are expected at the largest annual gathering of pharmacy professionals holding between 6th and 11th of November.

Yakasai said the conference under the theme, ‘Medicines Availability and National Security,’ would address the imperatives of medicine availability to national security.

“In this light, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria has been a strong advocate for local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and the need for government to create friendly environment for pharmaceutical sector in Nigeria,” he said.

As part the conference, the leadership of the society last weekend embarked on medical outreach at Ubakala Autonomous community in the state.

The outreach with seven doctors, 20 Nurses and 40 pharmacists included screening, consultation, counseling and drug dispensing.

Yakasai listed the challenges facing the health sector to include delayed and unlawful appointments in regulatory agencies, poor composition structures in the health sector, including lopsided appointments in Federal Health Institutions and poor attitude to research and development.

“Low wages and obsolete equipment combine to make our health system largely unproductive. Universal Health Coverage is almost impossible because of a deficiently administered social health insurance agenda,” he said.

Daily Trust is the official newspaper for the 90th PSN annual national conference. of