The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to suspend ongoing amendments to health-related bills, citing legal and professional concerns.
The body said the move was necessary to protect the integrity of the healthcare system and avoid actions that could undermine public health and patient safety.
It also warned that proceeding with the amendments despite pending court cases could violate legislative rules and disrupt established structures within the pharmacy profession.
The President of the association, Ayuba Tanko, made the appeal during the 2026 Colloquium of the society held in Yola, Adamawa State.
“We respectfully urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the National Assembly to halt these amendment health bills on the grounds that there is a multiplicity of court cases in the various high courts and the Court of Appeal.
“The rules of the National Assembly forbid the consideration of bills on matters before the courts. This administration believes in the rule of law mantra, and we therefore trust its judgement to ensure public health and patient safety are upheld in the national interest,” he said.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that President Bola Tinubu had, in January 2026, transmitted 24 health sector bills to the Senate for legislative consideration.
Tinubu explained that the proposed legislation followed a comprehensive review of existing health sector laws. According to the President, the bills aim to streamline governance structures across health institutions by reducing bloated board memberships, with a view to improving efficiency, effectiveness, and service delivery within the sector.
But speaking at the colloquium, Tanko added that any attempt to alter existing frameworks without due consideration could negatively impact the pharmacy profession.
“An undue interference and disruption of the autonomy of professionalism in Pharmacy practice is counterproductive,” the PSN president added.
He noted that pharmacy practice in Nigeria is backed by a long history of legislation, which has helped shape its current structure and professional independence.
“Pharmacy practice is grounded in substantial antiquity when it comes to legislation. The laws regulating and controlling Pharmacy practice and drugs date back to 1878, when the Lagos pilotage and Harbour ordinance was established for the control and suspension of medicines and healthcare on board the ships docked in Lagos Harbour at that time. Later, the Hospital Ordinance of 1881 and the Ereko Dispensary Rules of 1889 were enacted,” he said.
He further explained that the evolution of these laws eventually led to the establishment of a comprehensive regulatory framework for the profession.
“There was a metamorphosis till we had the Pharmacists Act no 26 of 1964 for the regulation and control of Pharmacy practice in all ramifications. This law laid the foundation for professional autonomy in Pharmacy practice for over 60 years now,” the pharmacist said.
Tanko emphasised the importance of maintaining the current governance structure of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, noting that it ensures efficiency and sustainability.
He explained, “Flowing from the above, it is appropriate that membership of PCN Governing Council should have an experienced Chairman with members drawn from the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (which membership include all registered pharmacist), Academia, Directors of Pharmaceutical Services who serves as Chairmen Pharmaceutical Inspection Committees and Chairmen Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors Licence Committees in their various states) as this block apart from the expertise they bring sustains the PCN financially with huge payments for varying cadres of licence fees, representative of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Registrar/CEO of PCN, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and Pharmacy Technicians.”
He warned that any disruption to this structure could have far-reaching consequences for both the profession and public health.
“A disruption of this smooth equilibrium poses huge threats to the sustainability of the PCN and public health ultimately.”
Aside from PSN, other medical professionals have kicked against the amendment bills.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that the Joint Health Sector Unions kicked against proposed executive amendment bills seeking to amend health regulatory laws, stating that the bills would grant medical and dental practitioners regulatory control over other healthcare professions in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by the National Chairman, Kabiru Minjibir, and the General Secretary, Martin Egbanubi, JOHESU described the move as an attempt to impose an apartheid regime in the health sector.
The union stated that the bills seek to override the regulatory powers and functions of other health professional agencies, warning that it would spell doom for the health sector.
Also, the Association of Radiographers of Nigeria warned against what it described as a legislative attempt to erode the profession of radiography and transfer its statutory responsibilities to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
The President of the association, Dr Musa Dembele, gave the warning while addressing a press conference at the Kano NUJ Press Centre on Saturday.
He said, “The Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026 (HB 2695) is not a reform but a targeted, calculated, and existential assault on the profession of radiography.”
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
