By: Manoah Kikekon
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has officially urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to integrate registered community pharmacists into the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) scheme. The association argues that this reform is a critical, transformative step toward expanding affordable healthcare, ensuring medicine safety, and accelerating Nigeria’s path to Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
During a press briefing to unveil the 45th Annual International Scientific Conference, ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, highlighted that community pharmacies serve as the primary point of contact for nearly 80% of Nigerians. By integrating these pharmacies into the national health insurance framework, the government could significantly reduce patient travel times and out-of-pocket costs while bringing essential services closer to underserved populations.
"Most Nigerians live closer to a community pharmacy than to a major hospital," Pharm. Ezeh noted. "Integrating community pharmacists into the NHIA means healthcare becomes available right where people live, reducing travel time, lowering healthcare costs, and improving timely access to quality medicines".
The association’s call for reform coincides with its upcoming 45th Annual International Scientific Conference, themed "Unity 2026: From Local Pharmacy Practice to Global Impact – Managing Complex Political Systems". Scheduled for July 27 to August 1, 2026, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, the event aims to translate professional recommendations into implementable policies.
Key highlights of the conference include:
Awareness Walk: A kickoff event on July 27 themed "Health Insurance for All: Leaving No One Behind," to be led by NHIA Director-General Dr. Kelechi Ohiri.
Strategic Discussions: Expert-led sessions focusing on leveraging NHIA–community pharmacist collaboration and strengthening primary healthcare delivery.
High-Level Engagement: The conference expects participation from prominent leaders, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and Coordinating Minister of Health Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate.
Beyond healthcare access, the ACPN is using the conference to advocate for stronger medicine quality assurance. Pharm. Ezeh warned the public against patronizing unlicensed medicine vendors, which contributes to the proliferation of substandard and falsified products. He emphasized that directing healthcare financing through regulated pharmaceutical outlets would create a safer environment for patients and effectively combat the spread of counterfeit drugs.
The ACPN maintains that community pharmacists are an "underutilized national healthcare asset". By formalizing their role within the NHIA, the government can maximize existing infrastructure to deliver immediate healthcare improvements without the need for massive new capital investments.