PHARMACISTS, NURSES DESERVE CONSULTANT STATUS; CPAN FIRES AT NAMDA

The Clinical Pharmacists Association of Nigeria (CPAN) has issued a strong, evidence backed response to the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) following its December 1st, 2025 petition opposing the consultant cadres for pharmacists and nurses. The Association described the petition as poorly structured, unacademic and driven by dated assumptions that undermine ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s health sector.

In a statement signed by CPAN’s National Chairman, Dr. Maureen Nwafor and National Secretary, Dr. AbdulMuminu Isah, the Association explained that the NAMDA petition relied largely on emotional rhetoric and outdated arguments rather than contemporary scientific findings. CPAN viewed the document as a misleading intervention at a time when Nigeria is aligning its’ health workforce with global standards.

According to CPAN, the petition lacked the analytical depth, scholarly structure and evidential backing expected of an academic organisation. The Association argued that NAMDA’s claim that pharmacists and nurses lack clinical relevance contradicts decades of international and Nigerian research demonstrating the measurable contributions of these cadres to patient outcomes.

CPAN highlighted extensive Nigerian studies showing that pharmacist led interventions reduce drug therapy problems, improve disease control, enhance patient adherence and prevent avoidable harm. Research conducted in areas such as epilepsy, asthma and COPD management, HIV therapy, diabetes control and mental health was cited as proof of the clinical significance of pharmacy and nursing practice. CPAN also noted that even pharmacy students have documented improvements in patient outcomes, reinforcing the profession’s practical value.

The Association stressed that consultant pharmacists and consultant nurses are well established roles in advanced health systems including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia and South Africa. These roles, CPAN stated, contribute significantly to governance, patient safety and cost-efficient care delivery. For CPAN, Nigeria’s adoption of consultant cadres is simply a step toward global best practice rather than a new or experimental approach.

The Association further reminded policymakers that the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act 2022 already provides a modern regulatory framework compatible with current global health workforce models, making reliance on pre-2022 legal interpretations outdated and unproductive.

CPAN urged the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the National Council on Establishments to prioritize evidence driven reforms rather than succumb to professional rivalry. The Association emphasized that Nigeria’s health challenges require collaboration across all professions, not territorial competition that weakens patient care.

In its’ concluding remarks, CPAN reaffirmed its readiness to support the Federal Government in fully implementing the consultant cadres for pharmacists and nurses. The Association described the reform as essential for strengthening patient safety, improving healthcare efficiency and positioning Nigeria’s health system for global competitiveness. It added that the future will favour stakeholders who choose progress over resistance.