Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has called on pharmacists across the country to partner with his administration in tackling the circulation of fake and counterfeit drugs.
Soludo made the appeal on Tuesday while declaring open the 99th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), held at the International Convention Centre, Awka.
The governor urged the professional body to strengthen its regulatory efforts, ensure that members operate within established standards and help identify illegal medicine outlets disguising themselves as registered pharmacies.
He warned against the activities of unlicensed drug dealers, stressing the need for collective action to protect public health and improve the quality of pharmaceutical services.
Soludo also described Anambra as Nigeria’s pharmaceutical headquarters and disclosed that his administration was developing a dedicated pharmaceutical hub in Oba, alongside a Coordinated Wholesale Centre expected to be completed in early 2027.
Speaking on healthcare delivery, the governor highlighted his administration’s investment in primary healthcare facilities and its free antenatal care programme, which he said had benefited more than 250,000 pregnant women and supported over 900 free Caesarean section deliveries.
The PSN President, Ayuba Ibrahim, commended the governor for his support for the pharmacy profession and presented him with an award of excellence in recognition of his contributions.
The conference, themed “One Health, One Pharmacy: Bridging Knowledge, Practice and Policy for National Impact,” brought together pharmacists and other healthcare stakeholders to discuss ways of strengthening pharmaceutical practice and healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
