World Pharmacists Day: Pharmacist shortage threatens healthcare delivery — Experts

By Matthew Johnson

Ahead of the World Pharmacists Day 2026, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals have called for urgent investment in the profession, improved working conditions and stronger policy support to address manpower shortages and enable pharmacists contribute more effectively to healthcare delivery.

The call was made at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, during activities to mark the global celebration, themed, “Empowering Pharmacists for Healthier Futures.”

The Director of Pharmaceutical Services and Head of Pharmacy at the hospital, Oyetunde Ajayi, identified the migration of pharmacists abroad as one of the major factors worsening the manpower shortage in the profession.
He said the growing demand for healthcare was being met by a shrinking pool of pharmacists, warning that the situation could undermine medication safety and quality of patient care if urgent measures were not taken.

“We have a serious deficit of personnel, pharmacists, to work. There is a lot of work to be done, but we only have very few of us that are left.

“As the need for care is increasing, the personnel is dwindling. More than 60 per cent of these graduates have already made plans to leave the shores of Nigeria,” Ajayi said.

He also identified inadequate recognition of pharmacists, slow implementation of favourable government policies, inadequate equipment and the high cost of professional training as challenges requiring urgent attention.

According to him, empowering pharmacists would not only improve their professional capacity but also strengthen collaboration with other healthcare workers, enhance medication safety and improve treatment outcomes.

Ajayi also called for wider deployment of electronic medical records across hospitals and improved connectivity between healthcare facilities to ensure that pharmacists and other healthcare professionals have access to relevant patient information when making treatment decisions.

He advocated the integration of telepharmacy and telemedicine into Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly to extend services to underserved and remote communities.

“Because we are a very big nation now, we should start looking at remote care. We have a lot of very remote areas in Nigeria. We should be talking about telepharmacy, telemedicine, so that we are able to reach people in remote areas,” he said.

The keynote speaker, Professor Roseline Williams, said the role of pharmacists had evolved significantly beyond the traditional responsibility of dispensing medicines.

She said pharmacists now contribute to medication optimisation, patient education, preventive care, screening, immunisation, chronic disease management and medication adherence.

Williams stressed the importance of stronger collaboration among doctors, pharmacists, nurses, dieticians and other healthcare professionals to provide coordinated care for patients.

She noted that pharmacists could play a greater role in supporting patients living with chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes by helping them understand their medications, monitor their health and adopt appropriate lifestyle changes.

Also speaking, Managing Director, Pharmacy Plus Limited, Mr Chukwuemeka Obi, described pharmacists as the “last mile” of healthcare delivery, saying gaps at that stage could affect the overall outcome of patient care.

Obi called on government to provide an enabling environment, including adequate infrastructure and equipment, to allow pharmacists to perform their roles effectively.
He also urged pharmacists to continually update their knowledge and skills in response to changes in healthcare and advances in technology.

Consultant Psychiatrist and Head of Clinical Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr Akinola Fumilayo, described pharmacists as indispensable members of the healthcare team.

Fumilayo said pharmacists played important roles in medication counselling, monitoring drug interactions and educating patients on the proper use of medicines, including their potential side effects.

He said their responsibilities had expanded beyond simply directing members of the public to hospitals when medical attention was required, stressing the need to recognise pharmacists as active participants in patient care.