To address some of the lingering challenges bedeviling healthcare in the country, eminent pharmacists and stakeholders at the 97th annual Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) conference in Uyo have urged Nigerian pharmacists to adopt a value-based approach to healthcare, especially in chronic diseases management and preventive care.

Speaking during the first plenary session at the conference, chaired by Hajia Wosilatu Giwa, PCN chairman, which featured impactful contributions from Pharm. (Dr) Teresa Pounds, chairman, West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN); Pharm. Wale Oladigbolu, immediate past national chairman, ACPN, and Pharm. (Mrs) Abimbola Adebakin, CEO, Advantage Health Africa, the speakers stressed on the urgent need for a transformative shift in pharmacy practice across Nigeria.

Setting the tone, Giwa highlighted the power of digital innovation to reshape Nigeria’s healthcare landscape, particularly by harnessing tools like electronic health records, telemedicine, and artificial intelligence.

She noted that these technologies could improve healthcare access and efficiency, especially in underserved communities, and called on pharmacists to engage with these advancements. “Digital transformation can drive operational efficiency, lower costs, and boost economic growth, ultimately creating a healthier and more prosperous society,” she stated.

Dr Pounds, as the lead speaker, introduced a comprehensive model for value-based care, advocating for a departure from the traditional fee-for-service approach in favour of a system focused on patient outcomes.

Pounds further outlined how value-based care could allow pharmacists, especially in community settings, to provide medication therapy management, personalised wellness consultations, and patient-centred care, ultimately reducing costs while enhancing patient satisfaction. She described the Management Service Organisation (MSO) model, which allocates administrative functions separately from clinical services, enabling pharmacists to dedicate more time to direct patient care.

Speaking further, Pounds highlighted the success of a pilot programme involving pharmacists equipped with Trust Rx technology, a system that enables patient assessments and continuous health monitoring, particularly for managing chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. She encouraged Nigerian pharmacists to consider such value-based models to drive healthcare improvement across the country.

In his own speech, Pharm. Wale Oladigbolu underscored the unique position of community pharmacies in Nigeria, where over 70 percent of citizens access healthcare through the private sector, arguing that community pharmacies have the potential to bridge gaps left by under-resourced primary healthcare facilities, particularly in terms of access and affordability.

He cited recent policy advances, such as the federal endorsement of pharmacy-administered vaccination services, which have supported community pharmacies in delivering essential health services.

Oladigbolu emphasised that pharmacists must transition from mere dispensers to proactive healthcare providers, equipped with new skills in areas like point-of-care testing and chronic disease management. “This transformation will not only benefit patients but also help pharmacists to progress in their careers through continuous upskilling and stakeholder engagement,” he noted.

In her contribution, Pharm. Abimbola Adebakin, urged pharmacists to embrace their roles as influential healthcare providers, likening them to “princes” in the sector. She challenged pharmacists to recognise their unique advantage of direct patient access and use it as an opportunity to offer personalised, value-based care.

Adebakin cited the growing trend of social media as an untapped platform for pharmacists to share valuable health insights and connect with broader audiences, particularly on chronic diseases management.

“We must move beyond competing on price alone,” Adebakin advised, stressing the potential for pharmacists to introduce subscription models for ongoing care and develop deeper, long-lasting relationships with their patients. Her message to fellow pharmacists was clear: “Tell yourself, I am valuable,” she concluded, urging them to take ownership of their role as essential healthcare influencers in Nigeria.

The speakers, unanimously called for collective action among Nigerian pharmacists to adopt value-based care practices, digital integration, and continuous professional development, aimed at delivering quality care to communities and meeting the nation’s rising healthcare needs.