The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has pledged support for ongoing healthcare reforms in Anambra State, citing efforts to improve drug distribution, strengthen regulation and expand local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The association made this known following the second-term inauguration of Governor Charles Soludo, which it described as a public endorsement of visionary leadership and people-centred governance.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, ACPN leaders, Omokhafe Ashore and Felix Enendu, commended Soludo for recognising pharmacists as key players in healthcare delivery and system strengthening.
They said Anambra’s business-friendly environment was attracting pharmaceutical investors planning to establish manufacturing plants and distribution centres in Onitsha, a development they said would improve access to medicines, create jobs and strengthen the state’s health economy.
According to the association, the governor’s renewed mandate reflects public confidence in an administration that has pursued reforms across healthcare, education, innovation and technology.
The pharmacists said the state’s reforms align with broader national goals of building a stronger healthcare system and ensuring equitable access to safe, effective and quality medicines.
They particularly highlighted efforts to sanitise the pharmaceutical supply chain through Coordinated Wholesale Centres, noting that facilities such as the Oba hub support National Drug Distribution Guidelines and help curb the circulation of fake medicines.
The ACPN said the initiative would improve regulatory oversight, boost transparency and strengthen the integrity of the drug distribution system, all of which are critical to patient safety and effective healthcare delivery.
The association also praised industrialisation efforts in the health sector, including the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City and the pharmaceutical hub in Ogboji, which it said would support manufacturing, research and regional competitiveness in medicine production.
It added that the projects could promote local drug manufacturing, encourage research and development, and position Anambra as a leading pharmaceutical production hub in Nigeria and across West Africa.
The group recalled Soludo’s advocacy for local drug manufacturing as a route to national drug security, reduced import dependence and stronger resilience in the healthcare system.
It also pointed to the governor’s engagements with industry players, including May and Baker Nigeria Plc, aimed at encouraging investment in indigenous research, innovation and expanded pharmaceutical production capacity.
The ACPN reaffirmed its readiness to work with the government to advance the reforms, saying community pharmacists remain committed to policies that improve healthcare access and support sustainable system development.
