NAPTTON disagrees with PSN over scrapping of Pharm Tech programme in Polytechnics

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By Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis ——

Sequel to an appeal from the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) to the Federal Ministry of Education to prevail on the National Board for Technical Education Board to scrap the Pharmaceutical Technology Diploma Programmes in polytechnics, the National Association of Pharmaceutical Technologists and Pharmacy Technicians of Nigeria (NAPTTON) has chided the society for making such remark.

In an official statement signed by its President, Alhaji Yusuf Hojapa, NAPTTON declared that such programmes are still needed in the country.

It would be recalled that the PSN had frowned at the initiative of the NBTE offering of diploma programmes in Pharm Tech during its annual general meeting at the 85th annual national conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State in November last year.

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Among other things, the conference strongly urged the Federal Ministry of Education to immediately direct the NBTE to stop such programmes which PSN believes could introduce new dimensions in quackery in drug distribution as is already being witnessed in some Southern States in Nigeria.

In an official communiqué released to the media, the pharmacists emphasised that the “Conference found it necessary to draw the attention of the Federal Ministry of Education to statutory powers of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria to regulate pharmacy practice and training in all aspects and ramifications in Nigeria.”

Consequently, the PSN is calling for a total scrapping of the programme on the grounds that pharmaceutical technology is a postgraduate specialty in universities.

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Hojapa however disagreed with the notion. He insisted that pharmaceutical technology programmes operate freely in Ghana and other countries, adding that it was surprising that the NBTE was planning to do them.

The NAPTTON appealed to the Minister of Education, Prof. Rukkayat Rufai, to disregard the suggestion to scrap the programmes, adding that the programmes would rather advance pharmacy education and practices in the country.

“We at NAPTTON condemn the recent call that Pharmaceutical Technology Programme being anchored by NBTE be stopped by the Minister of Education.

“Pharmaceutical Technology programmes (ND/HND) operate freely in Ghana and other climes, hence one wonders why any group should pull woods on the face of the distinguished Minister of Education who is well-informed about developments internationally,” he said.

12 COMMENTS

  1. Ilese college of health, Ogun state has been given approval to write certification examination for those pharm tech who passed out between 2000 to 2015,what of those who went to pogil college of health ijebu ode who passed out that time too,we have our college certificate too.what becomes of us,we have spent so much to be trained despite our ignorance that this school is not accredited to carry out such training. Pls NBTE give attention to this because many of us want to still further and likewise use our certificate to work.the CEO of the school is still running such courses.why would such exploitation be allowed.I hope this get to relevant bodies so that we can be indexed like our counterparts in ilese and receive training that can help us take the certified exam.

  2. Technicians never equate themselves with Pharmacists. The issue is the ATTITUDE of the Pharmacists towards the Technicians, where they see themselves as LORDS and the Technicians as SERVANTS. This shouldn’t be the case. Let the two cadres in the industry have mutual trust and respect for each other. Regarding training and re-training of the Technicians, it is very necessary to eliminate quackery which the Pharmacists are concerned about. If you don’t want quackery, then those in the system should be properly trained and re-trained in line with global best practices. In USA and UK for instance, Technicians have four levels of training which help them to be position for efficiency in the discharge of their duties as professionals. There is no rivalry or hatred from the Pharmacists in these countries mentioned. We can do the same in Nigeria. Technicians are saying Pharmacists should concentrate on research and development of new drugs as drug scientists and leave the technical aspect of drug dispensing for the Technicians, train and re-train them to be more efficient. This is a challenge which Pharmacists in Nigeria are yet to take up. It is very unfortunate.

  3. Been a pharmacist or pharm.tech is by anyone’s choice.pharmacist are to work as pharmacist whereas pharm.tech shld also perform their duties without disturbing anyone. Nigerian pharmacist are very sentimental becoz dey never have any good intention for the pharm.tech. I stand to be corrected pharm.tech and pharmacist are two parallel line DAT can Neva meet, there is a court judgment back that.

  4. Hum…. Nothing to be stop. As for me have spend 2years in study pharm tech. And u said is freely in Ghana. Why cant we also start the course. The course is an intresing course. Please just think for those that has wasted money on this course. I spend more than 300,000 for this course. Help us to accredit this course in ogun state college of health ilese.

  5. We need the middle level workers as Nigeria dont have Pharmacist to go round.I had my NYSC at Katsina-Ala LGA a population of over 100,000 people where the only Pharmacist is in the General Hospital.How do these populace get served,Please lets have a rethink we need the training of the technicians.

  6. It is unfortunate that we politize so many issues in this Country.
    The training of Pharmacy Technologists and Pharmacy Technicians should not be considered rivalry to the training of Pharmacists in this country.
    Rather we should consider the followings:
    1. How should regulate the training of all cadres of professionals in the pharmacy profession- the PCN or NBTE?
    2. Pharmacy Technician Training is the same as ND Pharmacy Technologist Training?
    3. Does the country have the technological basis that warrants training of Pharmacy Technologists that have no Pharmaceutical Industries to work in?
    These pertent issues should what we should be objectively considering than the petite issue of rivalry and phobia of rivalry.
    Thanks

  7. OMG! These guys actually consider themselves rivals to pharmacists!! So, to Ghana we go in total disregard for the law of this country to copy whatever is bad that they do. It’s absurd that the law of the Federal Republic is being openly flouted by money-seeking schools and the Ministry of Education is fueling it. I won’t be too surprised if the Ministry of Health supports this illegality.

    “Anything to keep those pharmacists busy would do”. NAFDAC head a non-pharmacist, PCN virtually crippled and powerless (no staff , no fund, no equipment, tools, vehicles…) to properly perform its functions, chaotic drug distribution, NHIS operating like a family business, private clinics buying, storing and dispensing ethical drugs in large quantities without pharmacists…

    The direction is clear. They are going to flood the country with “pharmacy technicians” who will be in charge of ethical drugs in private clinics (contrary to the law of this country) as is currently being done.

    If Nigerians can’t see it as pharmacists can, the doom in healthcare is certain.

    • THE WRITE UP PORTRAYS SIMPLY GREED & SELFISHNESS. YOU CAN AS WELL TELL ONLY DOCTORS TO MAN EVERYTHING ABOUT HEALTH IN THIS COUNTRY. AFTER ALL THEY CAN DO IT.

      • SIMPLY TRAIN EVERY CADRE AND DEFINE THEIR ROLES WITH DUE RESPECT. YOU CAN’T DO IT ALONE [PHAMACISTS]. THE ‘LOGIST & ‘CIANS ARE NOT THE CAUSE OF FAKE DRUGS IN NIGERIA. DOCTORS CAN DO LAB, GIVE INJECTIONS, DISPENSE DRUGS, REHABILITATE BUT ALLOW OTHER HEATH BODIES TO EXIST. PCN SHOULD THINK OF HOW TO WORK TOGETHER WITH ALLIED BODIES NOT SCRAPING OR CLOSING

        • This matter Is very simple. Pharm Technicians or Technologists can never be equivalent to Pharmacists.Even in the university system,a technologist works in the laboratory to assisst the scientist or lecturers as the case may be in carrying out duties assigned to him by the lecturer. What PCN should do is to meet with the NBTE and ministry of education and review the curriculum of the ND programs and clearly define their role which is to work under the pharmacists’ supervision.It is only Ghana that offers HND in pharm Tech and this is wrong. In the UK and U.S pharm Tech is a postgraduate course. It is a pity that the ministry of education is even considering this.If you want to be a pharmacist, go and read pharmacy in an approved university and get the license. Having a HND in pharmacy will not make you a pharmacist. You will still have to work under supervision by a licensed pharmacist.

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