Pharmacists allege N30bn debt in pharma industry due to mismanagement of health funds

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has alleged that Nigeria’s health sector is now burdened with over ₦30 billion in debt owed to the pharmaceutical industry due to the mismanagement of health funds.

The association said this in a strongly worded statement issued in response to the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which recently defended physician-led hospital leadership and claimed that doctors do not interfere with the roles of other health professionals.

The ACPN’s response, signed by Ambrose Ezeh, its National Chairman, challenged those assertions and called for far-reaching reforms. The ACPN criticised the existing administrative structure of Federal Health Institutions (FHIs), which it traced to a 1985 policy shift. According to the statement, “Healthcare administration is, ideally, an autonomous professional calling,” but this was altered with the promulgation of Decree 10, which placed FHIs under the exclusive headship of physicians.

It argued that this change has led to a breakdown in effective hospital management. “The takeover by physicians has led to unprecedented corruption and inefficiency within the health sector,” the ACPN said, noting that “recent reports identify the health sector as the most corrupt area within the national economy.”

The statement referenced cases involving senior health officials, adding that “numerous instances of corruption involving physician leaders, including ministers and hospital directors,” have surfaced, “some of whom have faced charges related to the misappropriation of funds intended for crucial health services.”

The ACPN also challenged the management competence of physician-administrators. “Physicians often demonstrate poor communication, subpar relationship management, and an overall lack of experience in business strategies,” the statement said, blaming these deficiencies for the declining functionality of Nigeria’s public healthcare institutions.

It lamented the state of public health outcomes in the country, highlighting a shift away from prevention. “The association emphasized troubling health indices in Nigeria, including high rates of infant and maternal mortality, inefficiencies in health logistics, and a neglect of preventive healthcare.The ACPN added, “

The association further stated that “the healthcare system has shifted its focus from preventive measures to exclusively curative solutions, often driven by economic interests.”

On the issue of professional boundaries, the pharmacists took exception to NARD’s claim that “physicians do not interfere with other health professions.” In response. The current climate clearly illustrates a lack of respect for the roles of non-physician professionals,” citing “recent discussions concerning the implementation of a Consultant Pharmacist Cadre” as an example.

“The health sector has been plagued by negotiations skewed in favor of physicians, enabling them to dictate terms that marginalize other health professionals”, the ACPN stated.

The ACPN reiterated its call for sweeping healthcare reforms. “For Nigeria to move beyond ineffective healthcare governance, the government must embrace holistic reforms that genuinely serve the needs of all Nigerians,” the statement read.