Nigeria expands role of pharmacists in primary healthcare

The Nigerian government is moving to expand the role of pharmacists within the national healthcare system. During activities marking World Pharmacists Day 2026 in Abuja, the Federal Government called for greater professional participation in preventive care, chronic disease management, medicines safety, and digital health services.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare identified pharmacists as highly accessible frontline professionals. The government aims to integrate them more deeply into primary healthcare networks to address challenges such as medicine availability, inappropriate medicine use, and antimicrobial resistance.

Dr. Olumide Obube, a public health expert and former vice chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Ogun State chapter), emphasized that professional recognition alone is insufficient. He argued that for pharmacists to effectively contribute to medication adherence and health-system performance, they require supportive regulation, appropriate financing, technology, and integration into broader health strategies to achieve universal health coverage.