Nigerian Pharmacists Oppose Establishment of New Health Commissions

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has raised objections to the proposed creation of new health commissions in Nigeria, warning that such a move could weaken the authority of existing regulatory bodies and professional standards. The pharmacists argue that the establishment of additional commissions, including a surrogacy commission and a national accreditation standard commission, would be unnecessary and economically unrealistic.

They emphasize that the statutory powers vested in the National Tertiary Health Institute Standard Committee (NTHISC) under the Nation Health Act of 2014 are already sufficient for regulating and accrediting tertiary health institutions. The ACPN urges the National Assembly to focus on providing adequate budgetary support for NTHISC to fulfill its regulatory responsibilities effectively.