Open AccessPHARMACISTS’ DISTRIBUTION IN NIGERIA; IMPLICATION IN THE PROVISION OF SAFE MEDICINES AND PHARMACEUTICAL CARE
Author(s) -
Yejide Olukemi Oseni,
Yejide Olukemi Oseni
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences/international journal of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2656-0097
pISSN - 0975-1491
DOI - 10.22159/ijpps.2017v9i10.20454
Subject(s) - pharmacy , remuneration , distribution (mathematics) , medicine , family medicine , incentive , population , pharmaceutical care , rural area , nursing , business , environmental health , finance , mathematical analysis , mathematics , pathology , economics , microeconomics
Objective: The aim of the study was to appraise the distribution of pharmacists in the six (6) zones of Nigeria; determine the number of community pharmacies per population in each zone and in selected States; and assess the implication of pharmacists’ distribution in the provision of safe medicines and pharmaceutical care.Methods: Data analysis of pharmacists and community pharmacies in 6 zones of Nigeria was done using 2013 register and interviews conducted for pharmacists on the issue were analysed.Results: About fifty six percent (56.2%) of all registered pharmacists works in the community pharmacies. Distribution of community pharmacists shows Southwest (SW) 41.7%, Northcentral (NC) 20.6%, Southsouth (SS) 15.5%, Southeast (SE) 12.9%, Northwest (NW) 6.7% and Northeast (NE) 2.5%. In SW zone where pharmacists are highly concentrated, rural / urban distribution of community pharmacies revealed urban 89.9% and rural 10.1%, and a community pharmacy serviced 36,836 of the population. Inequitable distribution is due to low turn-out of graduate pharmacists, dearth of pharmacists abroad, poor remuneration, poor political will to employ pharmacists at the PHC level and poor amenities in the rural areas. This has led to irrational use of medicines, non-professionals in practice, chaotic drug distribution system, poor access to safe medicines and negative effects on health indicators.Conclusion: Improvement in country economy, increase number of faculties of pharmacy and improved facilities in the existing ones to increase turn-out of graduate pharmacists coupled with incentives for establishment of rural community pharmacy will increase access to safe medicines and care in Nigeria.