Lagos, May 26, 2024 – Pharm. Tolulope Ajayi, the newly elected Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) in Lagos State, has emphasized the critical importance of purchasing medications from licensed and authorized Pharmacies. Speaking on TungbaFM’s current affairs program, “Saturday Special Program with Mogaji Olalekan Efficient,” Ajayi highlighted the dangers of purchasing drugs from unlicensed vendors.
During the interview, Ajayi underscored that only licensed Pharmacy premises are authorized to offer and dispense medications and provide Pharmaceutical care to the public. He explained that these professionals undergo rigorous training in tertiary institutions and in many cases postgraduate training and certifications. Their practices are also regulated to ensure they consistently provide safe and effective Pharmaceutical care. He described Pharmaceutical Care as “the direct, responsible provision of medication-related care to achieve definite treatment outcomes that ultimately improves the patients’ quality of life”. “Your health is your wealth,” Ajayi remarked, “and ensuring you get your medications from the right place is essential to protect yourself from counterfeit and potentially harmful drugs.” He emphasized that Pharmacy is first and foremost a healthcare profession and drugs are not offered as articles of trade.
Accompanying Ajayi on the program were Pharm Adeniyi, the former Zonal Coordinator of ACPN Ikorodu, and Pharm Adediran, the current Zonal Coordinator of ACPN Ikorodu Lagos. Both reiterated Ajayi’s message, warning against the risks of purchasing medications from unauthorized sources such as street vendors, bus stops, and inside traffic, whose bearers are untrained and unlearned and such channels open to fake, unwholesome and adulterated products capable of causing more dangers than good.
Pharm Adediran pointed out that quackery in the pharmaceutical sector poses a significant threat to public health. “When people buy drugs from unregulated sources, they risk getting counterfeit products that can cause more harm than good,” he said. Pharm Adediran added that proper pharmaceutical care involves more than just handing over medication; it includes patient counseling on purpose of the drug use, manner of use, appropriate dosage, and monitoring for adverse effects, which unlicensed vendors cannot provide.
The ACPN representatives urged the public to always seek out licensed Pharmacy premises for their medication needs, emphasizing that such establishments adhere to strict guidelines to ensure the safety and efficacy of the drugs they dispense. “Your safety is our priority,” said Pharm Adediran, “and by patronizing licensed Pharmacists, you are ensuring that you receive genuine and effective medications.”
The discussion on TungbaFM highlighted a critical public health issue in Lagos State and reinforced the ACPN’s commitment to partner with the government in combating the menace of distribution of counterfeit drugs and ensuring that residents have access to safe and effective pharmaceutical services.
