A CALL TO ACTION: URGENT INTERVENTION NEEDED TO REOPEN DIRECT ENTRY PATHWAY FOR PHARMACY TECHNICIANS IN NIGERIA!
By Shagba Humphrey T., National President, Reformed Forum of Pharmacy Technicians in Nigeria (RFPTN)
For three years now, a critical roadblock has persisted in the educational advancement of Pharmacy Technicians in Nigeria. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) decision to bar Pharmacy Technicians from Direct Entry Admission (DE) into Degree Programmes is a matter of grave concern for the RFPTN and the entire Pharmacy profession.
This policy not only creates unnecessary hurdles for Certified Pharmacy Technicians seeking to upskill but also poses a threat to the future of the Pharmacy profession itself. With the JAMB DE registration deadline looming on Thursday, April 11th, 2024, we urge the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and Schools of Pharmacy Technicians Training to take immediate action.
A Clarion Call for Collaboration
The RFPTN has been tirelessly working to expand awareness of the PCN’s Direct Entry Approval among Southern Universities. However, JAMB’s policy blindsided us and our members. This lack of communication and coordination between stakeholders is causing undue pandemonium.
We call upon policymakers and all relevant stakeholders to recognize the criticality of this issue. Pharmacy Technicians in Nigeria already face numerous challenges, including a lack of advanced specialization opportunities compared to our counterparts in other nations. JAMB’s DE restriction further hinders our ability to progress and contribute meaningfully to the healthcare sector.
The Time for Action is Now:
The frustration and impatience among Pharmacy Technicians are reaching a boiling point. The RFPTN stands as a firm advocate and demands due consideration and recognition for our profession. We urge the PCN and Institutions of Pharmacy Technicians Training to collaborate with JAMB to:
Reconsider the DE ban: Allow qualified Pharmacy Technicians with the PCN’s Direct Entry Approval to pursue Degree Programmes through JAMB’s DE pathway.
Open communication channels: Foster better communication and collaboration between JAMB, PCN, and training institutions to ensure clear and consistent policies for Pharmacy Technicians.
The future of the Pharmacy Technician profession hinges on our collective action. We cannot afford to let this crucial opportunity slip away. Let us work together to ensure a smooth and accessible educational path for all Pharmacy Technicians in Nigeria.
Good morning Sir, we really appreciate your effort but why only southern universities?
Many of the northern Universities have already implemented Direct Entry Admission for Pharmacy Technicians.
Which Universities in particular please?
Government and national bodies especially PCN, PSN and jamb in particular has to look for this matter we’re struggling to get into a degree program at least with our diploma certificate and it’s not just a diploma rather than a good training and ethics into the system please consider our request.thank you
Work has been underway to resolve this. Encourage pharmacy technicians to register with RFPTN.
We certified, registered and license pharmacy technicians are in need of an urgent action of justice regarding to this matter serious.
We undergone alot before completd and passed course of training for pharmacy technician and satisfied the board of examiners in the prescribed national examination.
Pls we need an urgent action of justice and this our calling to be considered.
thanks in anticipation of great positive impact to our great profession.
The RFPTN LEADERSHIP UNDERSTANDS your plight and will not hesitate taking action on this situation. Soonest it will be under control.
Yes, this is the seriously matter that need immediate response, consider that how pharmacy Technician going through three years of training in the feel of pharmacy, they have the basic knowledge or foundation of the kills of any pharmacy school, so need for the pharmacy Technician to spend three years in ND, and at the end when he want to go further till he write or go through Jamb, after all those three years you can not get D,E,. Impact we suppose to react or talk to this issues why because Is big problem that pace the entire pharmacy Technician in Nigeria, and we call the president of RFPTN, to make effective communication with the PCN and others stake holders to consider with this issue that try to discourage of all certified pharmacy Technician to their professionals part.
Thanks you,
As the men of honor we joint our hand together.
The RFPTN LEADERS FORUM are extremely working on the situation. Be rest assured with time, this will be resolved.
I thank you Mr president for this been a pharmacist is our priority and I pray for God intervention
The Almighty will see us through.
Please and please let other action begins immediately for delay is degeriouse,all thanks to our national Bodies
It’s a great step taken by the President of the RFPTN to air out our concerns and pains. For three years we scale through the stipulated augmented curriculum of the PCN, distributed to all accredited schools nationwide. After such a vigorous training and being awarded Diploma in CPhT, jamb knew we don’t get admitted with jamb number as per as school of health is concerned. Then why the hurdles and unnecessary restrictions? Without reaching this threshold of concerns and burden to the CPhTs, they should have reconciled this long ago with our professional bodies. Looking forward to a glad tidings.
This is unfortunate, NBTE/JAMB demand pharmacy Technician programme to be National Diploma which is two years Programme but PCN denied. However, to my opinion PCN should redesign the curriculum and merge courses to be though in two years, because many countries in the world Pharmacy Technician is a two years programme unlike Nigeria. I am certified Pharmacy Technician from College of Health Sciences and Technology Kaltungo graduated 2019 and luckily enough got admission through DE at BUK Kano to study DOCTOR OF PHARMACY , currently I am in level 3 going to 4!
I am proud to be CphT.
What is the process which you secure admissions into buk Kano direct entry sir
Thank you Mr president for the wonderful effort you are putting in place regarding this matter
The bodies should please look into it
That’s awful and outstanding News by now, I have no word to describe my gratitude.
Please the P. C. N should consider this matter so that we can advance for our educational carrier.Proudly to be a pharmacy technician.
Good morning mr president, any hope yet about resolving the matter this year, because i cannot wait any much longer.
This is an urgent request. It should be considered too in the universities in the western part of Nigeria. Not all Pharmacy Technicians can go to the Northern universities to study Pharmacy
Mr President thanks for your efforts, they should help us resolve the issue on time. God will help you.