Health Crisis Alert: Pharmacists Shortage Threatens Drug Safety System in Lagos

(A pharmacist. Photo by the sun nigeria)

A "dangerous depletion" of pharmacists in the Lagos State Ministry of Health has prompted the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Lagos State Branch to issue a strong warning, stating that the situation is already weakening drug regulation and creating opportunities for statutory violations in the state's healthcare system.

The Chairman of PSN Lagos, Pharm, gave a speech on the weekend of the 2026 Annual Luncheon and inauguration ceremony in Lagos. Olaitan Ogunlade fervently urged the Lagos State Government to step in immediately and bring professional equilibrium back to the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services (DPS).

Ogunlade cautioned that staffing constraints and structural fragmentation had put the DPS, formerly a national model for pharmaceutical administration, "under severe strain."

"The Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services of Lagos State has always been a leader in Nigeria, but unless immediate corrective action is taken, that proud legacy is in jeopardy," he stated.

He pointed out that the directorate, which is in charge of vital regulatory tasks such pharmaceutical laboratories, medication inspection, counterfeit control, and key drug programs, is currently overburdened.

He claims that the migration of pharmacists into other organizations like the Primary Healthcare Board, the Health Service Commission, and LASUTH has made matters worse, leaving the Ministry of Health's DPS with just one functional director in charge of more than ten operational units.

The number of pharmacists in key regulatory roles is currently dangerously declining. This is already creating gaps in drug control and weakening compliance structures across the health system,” Ogunlade warned.

He also expressed worries about "encroachment into statutory pharmaceutical functions," noting instances in which the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act 2022 was allegedly being violated by drug handling and dispensing in certain state health programs.

Drug facilities must be directly supervised by superintendent pharmacists, according to Section 22 of the PCN Act. Any divergence might be harmful to the public's health in addition to being illegal, he said.

In order to strengthen regulatory activities inside the Ministry of Health, the PSN Lagos Chairman urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to consider temporarily redeploying top pharmacy officers and to immediately approve the hiring of more pharmacists into the state civil service.

We humbly request that His Excellency take prompt action. At this crucial moment, Lagos must not allow its innovative pharmaceutical regulating system to deteriorate, Ogunlade stated.

In order to restore equilibrium and guarantee efficient pharmaceutical governance throughout all state health organizations, he also suggested a calculated reorganization of healthcare facilities.

Ogunlade praised the state government for establishing senior pharmacist director jobs at Grade Level 17 in spite of the worries, calling it a progressive change that has motivated other states.

The luncheon offered as a venue for fundraising and honoring exceptional pharmaceutical industry experts. It also commemorated the inauguration of recently elected PSN Lagos leaders.

Ogunlade declared that the money raised from the event will go toward improving the PSN secretariat, rebranding its yearly Scientific Week, and starting a Pharmacists Support Initiative to improve professional welfare.

Additionally, he encouraged young University of Lagos pharmacy graduates to strive for excellence beyond academic success.

"We want you all to achieve great success and push the boundaries of pharmaceutical profession. "Your dedication will determine the future of healthcare," he said to the graduating recipients.