Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Pharmacists have an expanding role in Nigeria’s healthcare system, from medicine supply and dispensing to preventive care, chronic disease management and digital health, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Pate have said.
Pate, represented by the ministry’s Director of Human Resource Management, Teshoma Dafeta, made the remarks in Abuja on Friday during activities marking the 2026 World Pharmacists Day.
The commemoration was held under the theme, “Empowering Pharmacies for Healthier Futures”.
Pate said pharmacists were among the most accessible health professionals and had moved beyond traditional roles in medicine procurement, supply and dispensing.
He said their responsibilities now included clinical care, scientific innovation, public health delivery, community screening, immunisation, health promotion and wellness education.
Pharmacists also play an important role in managing chronic and non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, he said. “Empowering our pharmacists is not merely an option. It is essential to building a resilient, sustainable, and future-ready health system for our country,” Pate said.
The minister said the Federal Government was pursuing reforms to expand pharmacists’ contribution to primary healthcare, immunisation and specialised pharmaceutical care.
He said the reforms also covered e-pharmacy, digital health infrastructure, local pharmaceutical manufacturing and stronger regulatory systems to improve medicine supply security.
Pate said the government would continue investing in pharmacy education, clinical training, residency programmes and continuing professional development, while supporting research, biotechnology and health technology.
He also called for stronger collaboration between pharmacists, doctors, nurses and other health professionals to improve patient-centred care.
The Director of Food and Drug Services, Adeola Olufowobi-Yusuf, said pharmacies were frontline healthcare facilities, and their expertise was important to prevention, patient safety and public health.
She said the ministry was addressing unsafe medication practices, antimicrobial resistance and counterfeit medicines while exploring tele-pharmacy and digital health solutions.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it was strengthening collaboration with pharmacists on regulatory compliance, pharmacovigilance and the fight against substandard and falsified medicines.
Chizoba Maduagwuna, NAFDAC’s Director for the Greater Federal Capital Territory Office, said the agency also worked with the Nigeria Customs Service to address the entry of falsified medicines through the country’s borders.
She said NAFDAC used a track-and-trace system to monitor pharmaceutical products from manufacturers to their points of use.
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Oluwatobi Adu 