WAPCP Conference: Pharmacists Champion Integration Of Traditional Medicine For Better Healthcare

The West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) FCT Abuja Zone has called for integrating traditional complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) into mainstream healthcare to improve healthcare outcomes in Nigeria.

The call was made at the College’s 6th Annual Scientific Conference held in Abuja over the weekend.

The conference was themed “Drug Compounding Mini-Production and Quality Control in Health Institutions: A Panacea for Medicines Availability and Safety Challenges,” with the sub-theme: “The Role of Consultant Pharmacists in Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practice in Nigeria.”

Pharmacists at the conference interacted with and discussed the need for standardised TCAM practices, quality control, and evidence-based research to ensure safe and effective treatment outcomes.

According to WAPCP Zonal Coordinator, Dr Abubakar Danraka, consultant pharmacists can integrate TCAM into mainstream healthcare by providing scientific expertise, ensuring quality control and safety standards, promoting evidence-based practices, and collaborating with traditional medicine practitioners.

While speaking on drug compounding, mini-production, and quality control services in health facilities, Danraka noted that they can improve medicines’ availability and quality, especially given the high prevalence of Fake and Substandard drugs in Nigeria.

To leverage these benefits, he noted that policymakers and practitioners should advocate and insist on “Establishing these basic units in Secondary and Tertiary level care hospitals with clear guidelines and standards for optimal operations, providing training and capacity building for pharmacists, and investing in equipment, facilities, and quality control measures to assure effective operations of these units.”

Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion, Pharm. Boniface Ikwu emphasised the need for medical security and availability in Nigeria.

He stated that TCAM is a rich gold mine that can be tapped to benefit the Nigerian populace, particularly in underserved communities.

Ikwu, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services (DPS), Health Services and Environmental Secretariat (Federal Capital Territory Administration), noted that the development of TCAM holds much promise for greater universal healthcare coverage.

“There are rich benefits that come from nature, and this could be tapped for the benefit of the Nigerian populace. The development of this practice sector holds much promise regarding greater universal health care coverage,” he said.

The sub-theme speaker, Pharm. Kingsley Nnalue discussed the importance of TCAM and the role of consultant pharmacists in TCAM practice.

Nnalue, Director/Head Research and Development at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Abuja, emphasised the need to standardise TCAM services and integrate them into modern healthcare delivery systems, noting that consultant pharmacists are well-positioned to champion this effort.

The highlight of the occasion was the keynote address by  Pharm. Jelili Kilani,  Deputy Director, Pharmacy Department, National Hospital, Abuja, on the topic, “Drug Compounding, Mini-Production and Quality Control in Health Institutions: A Panacea for Medicines Availability and Safety Challenges,” and the welcoming of new inductees into the College.