Lagos State Government is moving to strengthen the regulation of antimicrobials and other prescription medicines as part of efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance, fake drugs and the misuse of medicines across the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this on Tuesday when the leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos State, paid a courtesy visit to his office.
Abayomi said the state was reviewing the National Prescription and Dispensing Policy issued by the Federal Ministry of Health in 2025, with plans to domesticate relevant provisions in Lagos.
He explained that unrestricted access to antibiotics, antimalarials and other antimicrobials was contributing to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance, which could make important medicines less effective.
“We are actually doing something very serious. This is our first attempt to regulate the over-the-counter dispensing of antimicrobials,” Abayomi said.
He added that Lagos could eventually introduce legislation to make compliance with the prescription and dispensing rules compulsory.
Pharmacists urged to test malaria cases
The Commissioner also urged pharmacists to support the state’s revised malaria management policy, which requires suspected malaria cases to be tested before treatment.
Abayomi said WHO-accredited rapid diagnostic test kits were highly sensitive and should be readily available in pharmacies.
He stressed that patients who test negative for malaria should not automatically be given antimalarial drugs but should instead be properly assessed or referred for further medical attention.
“Please do not treat anybody who presents with fever suspected to be malaria without conducting a test first,” he said.
According to him, responsible dispensing by pharmacists would help reduce the misuse of medicines and improve the quality of healthcare delivered to residents.
Lagos plans drug management agency
Abayomi also disclosed that the state was working towards establishing the Lagos State Drug Management Agency, which would provide another layer of protection against counterfeit, substandard and expired medicines.
He said a draft bill for the agency had already been prepared and would be presented to the Lagos State Executive Council before being forwarded to the State House of Assembly.
The proposed agency, he said, would also help strengthen the legitimate pharmaceutical supply chain and address challenges linked to the open drug market.
Abayomi clarified that Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) would not be eliminated, but would be expected to operate within appropriate regulatory and professional limits.
Government seeks pharmacists’ workforce data
The Commissioner further asked the PSN to provide reliable data on the number of pharmacists practising in Lagos and across Nigeria, including information on existing workforce gaps.
He said the data would help the government plan for the training and deployment of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other pharmaceutical professionals.
The information would also support plans for the proposed Lagos State University of Medicine and Health Sciences, he added.
PSN backs stronger partnership
Speaking on behalf of the PSN delegation, its Lagos State Chairman, Pharm. Olaitan Ogunlade, said the Society was committed to working with the state government on its health priorities.
Ogunlade explained that while the PSN serves as the professional association for pharmacists, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) is the regulatory body.
He said pharmacists work across hospitals, community pharmacies, academia, industry and other sectors, making their involvement important in strengthening the state’s healthcare system.
Ogunlade also welcomed Abayomi’s decision to participate in the Society’s forthcoming conference, where he is expected to deliver the opening address on “Partnering for a Future-Ready Health Workforce in Lagos: The Role of Pharmacists in One Health.”
He said the Commissioner would also join a high-level panel involving senior pharmaceutical professionals and regulatory authorities.
Ogunlade acknowledged the need for better communication between the Society and government, saying the meeting had helped to clear previous misunderstandings.
“Before now, it felt as though Lagos State was fighting us—almost as if the state was preventing us from reaching our destination,” he said.
He added that the engagement had shown the importance of better understanding, collaboration and sustained dialogue between the government and the pharmaceutical profession.
PSN pushes One Health approach
The Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Pharm. Mojisola Aladesanmi, also commended the Commissioner for his position on prescription practices and the open drug market.
She said uncontrolled access to medicines, including veterinary medicines, could create risks for public health, food safety and agriculture.
Aladesanmi said the PSN conference would therefore include a One Health component in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems.
She disclosed that a medical outreach would also form part of the conference, with the participation of the State Epidemiologist, veterinary epidemiologists and other professionals.
The activities are expected to examine the links between human health, animal health, food safety and the environment.
The meeting between the PSN and the Lagos State Ministry of Health focused on strengthening cooperation on antimicrobial resistance, responsible medicine use, malaria diagnosis, pharmaceutical workforce planning and drug quality assurance.
Other participants included PSN Lagos State Publicity Secretary, Pharm. Paul Owolabi; Secretary of the Conference Planning Committee, Pharm. Imade Roy-Ekekwe; and Pharm. Margaret Adedayo, Director, Lagos State Medical Store, who represented the Director of Pharmaceutical Services.
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