The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has revealed that the pharmaceutical industry is owed over ₦30 billion due to the mismanagement of health funds by physician-led hospital administrations.
National chairman of ACPN, Pharm. Ambrose Ezeh, disclosed this yesterday in a statement responding to recent comments by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), challenging the notion that physician dominance in the health sector has yielded positive outcomes.
The pharmacists accused physician leaders of mismanagement, inefficiency, and corruption, claims they say are evident in the huge debts now crippling pharmaceutical suppliers.
“The health sector is now burdened with over ₦30 billion in debt owed to the pharmaceutical industry due to the mismanagement of health funds,” ACPN stated.
They blamed the situation on a 1985 policy shift that gave exclusive headship of Federal Health Institutions (FHIs) to physicians, citing Decree 10 as a turning point that sidelined professional hospital administrators and laid the groundwork for widespread inefficiencies.
“The hospital system, once run with efficiency and order under professional administrators, has deteriorated under physician leadership,” the statement read.
They added that corruption has become rampant, with some physician administrators and health ministers facing allegations and prosecution for embezzling funds meant for critical health services.
The association further criticised the management style of physician leaders, claiming many lack training in leadership, communication, and strategic planning. These shortcomings, they argued, contribute to ongoing dysfunctions in public healthcare delivery.
The ACPN also expressed concern over Nigeria’s poor health indices, including high infant and maternal mortality rates, inadequate logistics, and neglect of preventive care. It decried a system now overly focused on curative, revenue-driven practices at the expense of public health.
Reacting to NARD’s claim that physicians do not interfere in the roles of other health professionals, the ACPN disagreed, citing ongoing resistance to the implementation of the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre as a prime example of professional marginalisation.
“The health sector has witnessed negotiations heavily tilted in favour of physicians, sidelining other professionals and reinforcing a culture of dominance,” the ACPN stated, noting that this culture hampers the growth of a collaborative health system.
The pharmacists called for sweeping reforms based on global best practices and inclusive governance models.
“For Nigeria to achieve a functional and equitable health system, the government must embrace holistic reforms that reflect the needs of all health professionals and the communities they serve,” the statement added.
The pharmacists’ body reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for better governance, professional recognition, and improved access to quality healthcare for Nigerians.
