CPAN faults NAMDA over petition against recognition of consultant pharmacists, nurses

The Clinical Pharmacists Association of Nigeria (CPAN) has criticised the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) over its petition opposing the consultant cadre for pharmacists and nurses.

NAMDA had, on December 1, 2025, petitioned the head of the service of the federation, urging the government to halt ongoing reforms that recognise consultant pharmacists and consultant nurses.

In a statement jointly signed by Maureen Nwafor, CPAN national chairman, and AbdulMuminu Isah, national secretary, the association said it was compelled to respond because the NAMDA petition “recycles old arguments long disproven by evidence, misleads policymakers, and undermines reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s health system”.

Nwafor said the petition lacked “intellectual depth” and failed to meet the standards expected of an academic body.

“A truly academic document is built on evidence, logical reasoning, and a review of existing literature. NAMDA’s petition fails on all fronts. It is riddled with contradictions, emotional blackmail, outdated references, and claims that collapse under the simplest academic scrutiny,” she said.

Nwafor added that NAMDA’s claim that pharmacists and nurses lack clinical relevance had no scientific basis.

“The weight of evidence, global and Nigerian, overwhelmingly affirms the clinical value of pharmacists and nurses across hospital, community, and specialised care environments. To call these cadres clinically irrelevant is not only false but academically irresponsible,” she said.

The association said multiple Nigerian studies have shown that pharmacist-led interventions reduce drug therapy problems, improve treatment outcomes, enhance adherence, prevent harm, and strengthen patient safety.

CPAN also cited peer-reviewed works on epilepsy, asthma/COPD, diabetes, antidepressant adherence, and HIV therapy as evidence of measurable clinical contributions.

“When a profession’s trainees can measurably improve patient outcomes, any claim of that profession’s irrelevance collapses under its own weight,” the statement added.

“Nigeria is not inventing anything new. We are simply aligning with global best practice. Opposition to consultant cadres is rooted in outdated thinking, not evidence.”

Addressing the head of service and the national council on establishments, CPAN urged government officials not to be swayed by “documents built on fear rather than facts”.

“These reforms are necessary for a stronger, safer, and globally competitive health system. Collaboration, not territorial rivalry, is what will move Nigeria forward,” the statement reads.

“Nigeria’s health challenges are too big for inter-professional battles. We must evolve beyond archaic rivalries. Our patients deserve a 21st-century healthcare system built on cooperation, evidence, and respect for every cadre’s expertise.”