Edo Community Pharmacists Decry Absence of Registered Pharmacists in Health Insurance Scheme
The Edo State chapter of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria expressed their concern at the lack of registered pharmacists in the Edo Health Insurance Scheme (EDOHIS).
During the 2022 Summit of ACPN, Edo State chapter, Chairman Duke Otite highlighted the need for inclusivity in the implementation of the EDOHIS interventionist program.
“The NHIS guidelines for accessing healthcare through the program are followed in government-accredited hospitals because the government provides the healthcare providers, including pharmacists.” he noted.
Otite suggested the accreditation of qualified community pharmacists into EDOHIS or forming partnerships with community pharmacies as a solution to address this issue.
He emphasized the serious concern of excluding community pharmacies from the scheme, which results in the dispensing of drugs without the signature and authority of a registered pharmacist, violating the NHIS Act and guidelines.
In his opening remarks, Olumide Akintayo, a former President of the PSN, joined in lamenting the decline of the NHIS coverage in Nigeria, contrasting it with Rwanda’s impressive 90% coverage.
Akintayo commended the Edo State ACPN for organizing the summit and reiterated the goal of community pharmacy to align with the NHIS to provide healthcare to the public. He also highlighted that the scheme had allocated approximately N1.5 trillion for drugs.
