The Clinical Pharmacists Association of Nigeria (CPAN) has issued a strongly worded rebuttal to the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) over its December 1, 2025 petition to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, describing the group’s attack on consultant cadres for pharmacists and nurses as “unacademic, contradictory, and fear-driven.”
In a detailed statement jointly signed by its National Chairman, Dr. Maureen Nwafor, and National Secretary, Dr. AbdulMuminu Isah, CPAN said it was compelled to respond because the petition not only recycled long-disproved arguments but also threatened to mislead policymakers and undermine ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s health system.
Dr. Nwafor criticised the NAMDA petition for lacking the scholarly depth expected of an academic body, noting that it contained no citations, relied heavily on emotional rhetoric, and failed basic standards of logic.
“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 It is riddled with contradictions, emotional blackmail, outdated references, and claims that collapse under the simplest academic scrutiny,” she stated.
She further faulted NAMDA for making what she called “scientifically baseless assertions” that pharmacists and nurses lack clinical relevance.
According to CPAN, extensive global and Nigerian evidence shows that pharmacists and nurses contribute significantly to patient care in hospital, community, and specialised settings. The Association highlighted multiple published Nigerian studies showing that pharmacist-led interventions reduce drug therapy problems, improve treatment outcomes, enhance adherence, and prevent medication-related harm.
Studies referenced in epilepsy management, asthma and COPD care, diabetes control, antidepressant adherence, and HIV therapy were cited as proof of measurable, evidence-backed contributions to patient wellbeing.
“When even pharmacy students have documented outcome-changing clinical contributions, any claim of professional irrelevance collapses under its own weight,” Dr. Nwafor added.
CPAN stressed that consultant pharmacists and consultant nurses are well-established in countries such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and South Africa—where they play critical roles in improving outcomes and strengthening healthcare governance.
“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,” the CPAN Chairman said.
Addressing the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the National Council on Establishments, CPAN urged government authorities to dismiss what it described as fear-based submissions lacking factual grounding.
The Association reminded stakeholders that the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act 2022 already provides a modern regulatory framework that supersedes the obsolete legal references NAMDA relied upon.
Calling for unity, CPAN said Nigeria’s health challenges were too enormous to be compounded by inter-professional conflicts.
“Our patients deserve a 21st-century healthcare system built on cooperation, evidence, and respect for every cadre’s expertise,” the statement read.
CPAN reaffirmed its readiness to support the Federal Government in fast-tracking the full implementation of consultant cadres for pharmacists and nurses, describing the reform as essential to building a modern, globally competitive and patient-centred health system.
The Association concluded by noting that “history will remember those who stood on the side of progress.”
