The Clinical Pharmacists Association of Nigeria (CPAN) has issued a strong call for systemic healthcare reform, urging the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to mandate the integration of clinical pharmacists into high-risk patient-care settings as a critical step toward enhancing patient safety and preventing medication-related harm.
The call follows the tragic death of a young boy from the Adichie family, an incident that has sparked national concern over medication safety, particularly in paediatric anaesthesia and critical care.
In a statement jointly signed by the National Chairman of CPAN, Dr. Maureen Nwafor, and its National Secretary, Dr. AbdulMuminu Isah, dated 15th January, 2026, the association extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved family, describing the loss as “profound and devastating.”
“As an association dedicated to advancing patient-centred care, we share in the grief of the Adichie family and the nation at large,” Dr. Nwafor said. “We stand in full solidarity with any family facing such an unimaginable loss and affirm their absolute right to clarity, transparency, and accountability.”
While emphasizing the importance of an independent investigation to establish the specific facts surrounding the incident, CPAN noted that the tragedy has once again exposed deep-seated vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s medication-use systems, particularly in high-risk clinical environments.
According to CPAN, global best practices clearly demonstrate that patient safety especially for vulnerable populations such as children is best achieved through structured, multidisciplinary collaboration.
Dr. Nwafor explained that high-alert medications, including sedatives and anaesthetic agents, carry inherent risks that require multiple layers of professional oversight.
“No single profession can shoulder the burden of medication safety alone,” she stated. “International experience shows that structured collaboration among physicians, nurses, and clinical pharmacists significantly reduces errors and improves outcomes, particularly in paediatric and critical care settings.”
The association cited extensive global and local evidence underscoring the value of clinical pharmacists in anaesthesia and critical care units. Studies across different healthcare systems show that embedding pharmacists within anaesthesiology teams improves medication safety, optimizes perioperative antibiotic use, and delivers measurable cost savings.
In critical care units worldwide, CPAN noted that clinical pharmacists play a central role in identifying and resolving drug-related problems, improving adherence to treatment guidelines, and enhancing patient outcomes — findings consistently reinforced by multiple studies and systematic reviews.
Importantly, CPAN stressed that this evidence is not limited to foreign settings. A Nigerian study conducted in the Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital in the South-South region demonstrated that clinical pharmacist interventions were pivotal in identifying and resolving numerous drug therapy problems, leading to optimized patient management.
“The data are clear,” Dr. Nwafor said. “Pharmacists’ involvement in critical care reduces adverse drug events, lowers mortality rates, and shortens ICU stays. These are not optional benefits; they are lifesaving outcomes.”
Beyond clinical outcomes, CPAN highlighted research showing strong patient acceptance of enhanced clinical pharmacy services in Nigeria. Studies indicate that patients recognize the specialized expertise of clinical pharmacists and are willing to pay out-of-pocket for such services due to their positive impact on health outcomes.
The association also pointed to the growing feasibility of pharmacist-led telehealth services, describing them as a scalable and cost-effective model for expanding access to pharmaceutical expertise, especially in underserved areas.
In what it described as “constructive, evidence-based advocacy,” CPAN urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to seize the moment and implement bold reforms centred on patient safety.
Among its key recommendations, the association called for:
• Mandatory integration of clinical pharmacists into patient-care teams in all high-risk areas, including paediatrics, anaesthesiology, intensive care, oncology, and emergency medicine, across both public and private healthcare facilities.
• Development and enforcement of national protocols for the use of high-alert medications, particularly in paediatric care, aligned with international best practices and requiring multidisciplinary oversight.
• Revision of hospital accreditation standards to make active clinical pharmacy services a core requirement for quality assurance and patient safety.
• Promotion of interprofessional education, fostering teamwork and collaborative practice among healthcare professionals from the earliest stages of training.
• Institutionalization of clinical pharmacy services, including sustainable funding frameworks for deploying pharmacists across all tiers of the healthcare system for direct patient care, drug-use evaluation, and pharmacovigilance.
CPAN concluded by stressing that the loss of any child represents a collective failure that must be met with decisive action rather than sympathy alone.
“Honouring this loss demands more than condolences,” Dr. Nwafor said. “It requires the courage to fix systemic gaps that allow preventable harm to occur. Clinical pharmacists are not competitors to other health professionals; they are essential allies in the complex mission of safe healing.”
The association reaffirmed its readiness to work with the Federal Ministry of Health, regulatory bodies, and other healthcare stakeholders to drive reforms that will build a more resilient, accountable, and world-class healthcare system for Nigeria.
“CPAN remains fully committed to providing technical support and expert consultation to ensure that patient safety becomes the true cornerstone of healthcare delivery in Nigeria,” the statement concluded.
