The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has called on the Anambra State House of Assembly to prioritize the passage of the Drug Management Agency (DMA) Bill, citing its potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery, ensure drug quality, and bolster state revenue. The appeal formed part of resolutions from the ACPN’s National Executive Council consultative meeting in Awka, where members lauded Governor Charles Soludo’s strides in advancing the pharmaceutical sector.
In a communiqué signed by National Chairman Ambrose Ezeh, the ACPN highlighted the DMA’s proven success in over 10 states, where registered pharmacists-led agencies have streamlined drug distribution and enforcement. “The DMA will catalyze effective drug control and significantly enhance Anambra’s Internally Generated Revenue,” Ezeh stated. The group also praised Soludo’s progress on the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) in Oba, designed to relocate Onitsha Head Bridge drug merchants under National Drug Distribution Guidelines. “We are impressed by the speed and quality of construction at the site,” Ezeh added.
The ACPN commended the governor’s industrial push, particularly the designation of a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in Ogboji, where vast land tracts have been allocated for industry growth. “This initiative will spur industrialization and related sectors,” the communiqué noted. Special recognition was given to Soludo’s appointment of pharmacists to key roles, including Pauly Onyeka as Commissioner for Housing, Dr. Godwin Nnadozie as Special Adviser on Pharmaceuticals, and Chisom Uchem as CEO of the Anambra Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHDA). Uchem’s leadership, they noted, has elevated ASPHDA to Nigeria’s top-performing primary care agency.
Ezeh further applauded the placement of over 20 pharmacists in the State Ministry of Health, addressing earlier staffing gaps. “These professionals are poised to drive impactful healthcare reforms,” he affirmed, pledging the ACPN’s support for Soludo’s vision. The pharmacists’ body urged swift legislative action on the DMA Bill, framing it as a critical step toward sustainable health sector growth and economic diversification in Anambra.
