PSN Releases Second 2026 State of the Profession Progress Report

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has released the second edition of its State of the Profession – Progress Report for 2026, outlining recent initiatives undertaken by the President-in-Council following the first quarter reports of the year. The report highlights developments in six key areas: the proposed public service entry point for Pharm.D graduates, landmark court judgments within the pharmacy sector, the registration of the Association of Consultant Pharmacists (ASSCOP), advocacy engagements, policy discussions at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), and a town hall meeting with the PSN Young Pharmacists' Group (PSN-YPG). Proposed Entry Point for Pharm.D Graduates According to the report, a proposal to revise the Scheme of Service for pharmacists to accommodate a new entry point equivalent to Grade Level 12 for post-NYSC Pharm.D graduates was considered following the 47th General Meeting of the National Council on Establishment (NCE) held in Kano. The proposal was subsequently referred to the Technical Committee of the NCE. The report states that the committee meeting, held on 25 and 26 May 2026, was attended by PSN President, Pharm. Ayuba Ibrahim Tanko, FPSN; Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. I. B. Ahmed, FPSN; and Past President of the PSN, Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, FPSN. According to the report, the Registrar of the PCN presented the justification for the proposed change and responded to questions on the rationale for the revised entry point for Pharm.D graduates. The PSN stated that it expects the proposal to result in a change to the entry point for pharmacists within the Scheme of Service at both federal and state levels. Landmark Court Judgments The report also highlighted what it described as landmark judgments delivered by the Federal High Court in Calabar and Ibadan on matters relating to pharmacy practice. According to the PSN, the judgments followed legal actions instituted by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and addressed concerns over the dispensing of medicines by unlicensed persons. The report stated that the Calabar judgment affirmed that dispensing medicines without being licensed as a pharmacist constitutes an offence under the applicable legal framework. It further noted that the judgment has implications for medicine dispensing practices in both private and public healthcare facilities. The report also disclosed that fresh attempts are being made to prosecute five persons in Kano State for allegedly breaking PCN seals placed on unregistered premises in Dalar-Gyada and Kurumi markets. ASSCOP Registration The PSN announced the successful registration of the Association of Consultant Pharmacists (ASSCOP) with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The society congratulated the leadership of ASSCOP on the achievement and encouraged the association to continue working with relevant stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of the consultancy cadre across federal health institutions, state governments, and pharmacy departments in government hospitals and agencies. Advocacy Engagements The report stated that the President-in-Council continued advocacy visits to the leadership of the National Assembly. According to the PSN, the engagements focused on aligning legislation with professional objectives and public expectations, while also seeking support for the implementation of existing government circulars relating to the welfare of public sector pharmacists. Policy Engagements at the Federal Ministry of Health The report stated that the PSN collaborated with JOHESU/AHPA on ongoing policy discussions concerning work hours and locum engagements for health personnel in federal health institutions. It also noted that on 29 June 2026, the PSN President participated as one of the experts invited by the Federal Ministry of Health to contribute to policies and guidelines on the utilisation of health commodities in Nigeria under the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC). Town Hall Meeting with PSN-YPG The report further disclosed that the President-in-Council held an exclusive town hall meeting with members of the PSN Young Pharmacists' Group (PSN-YPG). According to the report, the meeting addressed issues relating to the group's leadership crisis. The PSN stated that the engagement provided an opportunity to explain the actions taken by the National Council and underscored the importance of regular consultation with young pharmacists to strengthen the future of the profession. The progress report was signed by Pharm. A. Bola Oyawole, FPSN, FPCPharm, FNAPharm, Chairman of the PSN Advocacy Group, and Pharm. Gafar Madehin, FPSN, National Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.