Adequacy of Community Pharmacies for Doctor of Pharmacy and Internship Training in Nigeria

Authors

  • Ukamaka G. Okafor Pharmacists Council of Nigeria
  • Elijah N. Mohammed Pharmacists Council of Nigeria
  • Ebuka F. Umeodinka Pharmacists Council of Nigeria
  • Iniobong L. Usen Pharmacists Council of Nigeria

Keywords:

PharmD, Internship, Adequacy, Community Pharmacies

Abstract

Background: The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programme, which is the minimum degree for Pharmacy in Nigeria, includes a mandatory exposure of students to community pharmacy experience. Only community pharmacies accredited for the training of pharmacy interns are qualified to participate in the PharmD programme. There is a need to ensure the adequacy of community pharmacies accredited for internship training to achieve standard training of  PharmD students. Objectives: To assess the adequacy of the community pharmacies for PharmD and internship programmes in Nigeria.

Methods: Publications, file records and website of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria were  reviewed. Licensed community pharmacies and those accredited for internship training programme across the States and geographical zones of the federation were identified. The average number of graduates per State and the preceptor: intern ratios were also identified.

Results: Out of the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, only 17 States (45.95%) have Faculties of Pharmacy, out of which only Lagos State (6.7%) met the standard for preceptor: student ratio. There was inadequacy in the number of accredited community pharmacies for the PharmD training with the preceptor: internee ratio ranging from 1: 6 in Oyo State to 1:94 in Kaduna State as against the stipulated ratio of 1:4, with many States having no training centre.

Conclusion: Accredited community pharmacies for the training of PharmD students and internship programme are grossly inadequate in Nigeria. There is an urgent need to increase the number of community pharmacies for PharmD training through strategic advocacy and capacity building

Author Biographies

Ukamaka G. Okafor, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria

One Stop Pharmacy

Elijah N. Mohammed, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria

One Stop Pharmacy

Ebuka F. Umeodinka, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria

One Stop Pharmacy

Iniobong L. Usen, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria

One Stop Pharmacy

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Published

2020-06-01

How to Cite

G. Okafor, U. ., N. Mohammed, . E. ., F. Umeodinka, . E. ., & L. Usen, . I. . (2020). Adequacy of Community Pharmacies for Doctor of Pharmacy and Internship Training in Nigeria. The Nigerian Journal of Pharmacy, 54(2), 11–18 | https://doi.org/10.51412/psnnjp.2020.5. Retrieved from https://psnnjp.org/index.php/home/article/view/53