Pharmaceutical Products Marketers Seek Greater Collaboration With PCN, NAFDAC, NDLEA, Others

The Association of Pharmaceutical Products Marketers of Nigeria (APPMAN) has urged the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) and other relevant agencies to collaborate more effectively with association in the overall interest of the nation’s economic growth and the safety of all end users of Pharmaceutical products across the country.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, as part of APPMAN 2020 retreat and convention, National President of the association, Hon. Afolabi Adekambi, also called for alternative conflict resolution machineries between the PCN and the association so as to avoid violent rivalry and incessant court actions.

Adekambi said APPMAN will remain committed to peaceful approach and hopeful that the PCN will reciprocate by informing all its state offices, “so as to relate positively with APPMAN by resolving all disputes and misunderstandings amicably.”

Disclosing the progress made in the association so far, the President said “I am happy to say that in the last one year, the Association of Pharmaceutical Products Marketers of Nigeria (APPMAN) has undergone transmutation from the old NAGPPE to its present form and structure, so as to satisfy the pressing demands of a pragramatic and consolidated relationship among its members as well as with the relevant regulatory authorities.

“It is worthy of note that the old Association named NAGPPE, which was just in about five states of the federation before transmutating to APPMAN can now boast of presence in more than 30 States across the country, while consciously maintaining our Executives across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“In a pandemic period that we are, our association has been working assidously with regulatory agencies in the country, most especially the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN) in particular and others like NAFDAC, NDLEA, MOH etc. This we have conscientiously done with great care and perseverance.”

Speaking further, Adekambi said that the pronouncement of the Supreme Court in the case between NAGPPE and PCN was to be the effect that members of the association can engage in retail and wholesales of pharmaceutical products provided that Pharmacists are in their employ.

“This pronouncement by the apex court of the land is no doubt a watershed in our history and this association will remain grateful to our leaders whose efforts made the judicial victory possible.

“I salute all APPMAN members, who had weathered many lethal, obnoxious and suffocating storms, as experienced in the various policies of old to arrive at where we are today.

“Our solace is in the fact that a new dawn has berthed in our Association and I am proud to say that, surely we have risen again and to fall no more in God’s name,” he said.

On the 2020 convention, the President said the event will be used to evaluate “our strength, weakness, opportunities, threats to our business in the last one year and lay out plans for the coming year.

“Most importantly, we shall be unveiling and inaugurating new patrons, who are personalities with the strong character and reputation needed to strengthen the association.”