Economic Pressures Threaten Pharmacy Ethics in Nigeria

Pharm Rilwan Subair warned that worsening economic conditions are threatening ethical pharmacy practices in Nigeria during his keynote lecture at the 2026 annual summit of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) in Ibadan, Oyo State. He highlighted that rising healthcare costs and inflation are increasing pressure on community pharmacists, leading to concerns about the quality of pharmaceutical care.

Subair stressed the importance of maintaining patient safety and ethical standards, urging pharmacists to expand their roles beyond mere dispensing to include medication therapy management and antibiotic stewardship. He called for stronger collaboration among independent pharmacy owners to reduce costs and improve competitiveness.

Ambros Ezeh, the national chairman of ACPN, noted that pharmacists must evolve into innovative healthcare providers, while Wale Oladigbolu urged them to remain committed to ethical practices despite economic pressures. Adebayo Gbadamosi, the chairman of ACPN in Oyo State, emphasized the need to uphold ethics and improve access to quality healthcare services.