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LAGOS – The Clinical Pharmacists Association of Nigeria (CPAN) has issued a powerful petition to Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, calling for immediate systemic reforms to safeguard patients from medication-related harm. The association insisted that the integration of clinical pharmacists into Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly in high-risk areas, is no longer negotiable but a matter of national urgency.
The petition, jointly signed by Dr. Maureen Nwafor, National Chairman, and Dr. AbdulMuminu Isah, National Secretary, comes against the backdrop of the tragic death of the son of the Adichie family. CPAN expressed its deepest condolences, describing the incident as a “profound and tragic loss” that has shaken the nation. The association affirmed the family’s right to clarity and transparency regarding the circumstances of the tragedy, while stressing that the incident must serve as a catalyst for broader reflection on systemic weaknesses in Nigeria’s healthcare delivery.
A National Tragedy And The Call For Reform
In its opening remarks, CPAN extended heartfelt sympathies to the Adichie family, acknowledging the unimaginable pain of losing a child. While calling for an independent investigation into the specific circumstances of the case, the association emphasised that the tragedy highlights deeper systemic vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s medication-use process.
Particularly in high-risk settings such as paediatric anaesthesia and critical care, CPAN warned that the absence of structured safeguards leaves patients exposed to preventable harm. The association declared that the incident underscores the urgent need to re-evaluate and strengthen Nigeria’s collective approach to patient safety.
The Case For Multidisciplinary Safeguards
CPAN argued that international best practice demonstrates unequivocally that patient safety is maximised through structured, collaborative governance. High-alert medications, including sedatives and anaesthetics, carry significant risks that cannot be left to chance. The association insisted that multidisciplinary oversight is the only proven safeguard against catastrophic errors, especially for vulnerable populations such as children. “The imperative is clear,” the petition stated. “Nigeria must adopt collaborative models that integrate pharmacists into the heart of patient care.”
Evidence From Global And Local Studies
The petition marshalled robust evidence from both international and Nigerian studies to support its case.
A landmark study by Chapuis, Albaladejo, Billon and colleagues in 2019 demonstrated that integrating a pharmacist into an anaesthesiology department improves medication safety, optimises perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, and delivers significant cost savings. The study concluded that the role of pharmacists in anaesthesia and critical care is both clinically and economically worthwhile.
A systematic review published in the ‘American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy,’ in January 2025 by Lina Naseralallah, Somaya Koraysh, May Alasmar and Bodoor Aboujabal confirmed that clinical pharmacists in critical care units worldwide are instrumental in resolving drug-related problems, improving guideline adherence, and enhancing patient outcomes.
Crucially, CPAN highlighted that the benefits are not confined to foreign contexts. A Nigerian study conducted in the Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital in the South-South region, published in 2025 by Timipre O.A., Owonaro P.A., Eniojukan J.F., Owonaro S.A., Daughter A.E. and colleagues, documented that clinical pharmacist interventions were pivotal in identifying and resolving drug therapy problems. The study found that pharmacists’ involvement directly optimised patient management, reduced adverse drug events, lowered mortality, and shortened ICU stays.
The association declared that these findings establish clinical pharmacists as vital members of the care team, whose absence in Nigeria’s high-risk settings is indefensible.
Patient Acceptance And Willingness To Pay
CPAN further argued that reforms must align with patient needs and perceptions. Encouragingly, Nigerian patients have demonstrated strong recognition of the specialised expertise of clinical pharmacists.
Research shows that patients are willing to pay out-of-pocket for enhanced clinical pharmacy services, acknowledging their potential to improve health outcomes. Studies by Isah, Adibe, Abba and colleagues in 2021, as well as Jackson, Isah and Arikpo in 2023, confirmed this willingness among patients living with HIV and diabetes respectively.
Moreover, the feasibility of pharmacist-led care extends to telehealth models. A study by Chibueze Anosike, Maxwell O. Adibe, AbdulMuminu Isah and Onyinye B. Ukoha-Kalu in 2019 revealed that patients with chronic diseases in Enugu Metropolis were willing to pay for pharmacist-provided home telemonitoring. CPAN argued that this evidence demonstrates both patient acceptance and scalability, offering a pathway to expand pharmaceutical expertise nationwide.
Recommendations For a Safer Health System
In its petition, CPAN outlined urgent recommendations, insisting that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare must act decisively to prevent further tragedies.
The association urged the Ministry to issue a policy directive requiring the integration of clinical pharmacists into patient-care teams in all high-risk areas, including paediatrics, anaesthesiology, intensive care, oncology, and emergency medicine, across both public and private healthcare facilities.
It called for the development, dissemination, and enforcement of national clinical protocols for high-alert medication use, especially in paediatric care. These protocols, CPAN argued, must be modelled on international best practices and require multidisciplinary input and review.
The association also demanded revisions to hospital accreditation criteria, mandating the presence and active involvement of clinical pharmacy services as a core standard for quality and patient safety.
Furthermore, CPAN called for initiatives that foster interprofessional education and collaborative practice among healthcare trainees, embedding teamwork into professional development from the earliest stages.
Finally, the association called for the institutionalisation of clinical pharmacy services through a clear framework for funding and deploying clinical pharmacists within all tiers of the healthcare system, ensuring their role in direct patient care, drug use evaluation, and pharmacovigilance.
A Call To Courageous Action
In its conclusion, CPAN declared that the tragic loss of any child represents a profound failure of Nigeria’s collective duty to protect the most vulnerable. “Honouring this loss requires more than sympathy,” the petition stated. “It demands courageous action to fix the systemic gaps that allow preventable harm to occur.”
The association stressed that clinical pharmacists are not adversaries to other professions but essential allies in the mission of safe healing. By fully integrating their expertise into patient care, Nigeria can build a more resilient, accountable, and world-class healthcare system.
CPAN reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with the Ministry and all healthcare stakeholders to achieve this vital goal. The petition concluded with an offer of further consultation and technical support, underscoring the association’s readiness to contribute to transformative change.
While calling for urgent healthcare reform, CPAN noted that the integration of clinical pharmacists into Nigeria’s healthcare system is imperative.
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