PCN to tackle internship placement challenges for young pharmacists
The governing council of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) is working towards addressing the difficulties young pharmacists
The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN)
The governing council of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) is working towards addressing the difficulties young pharmacists face in securing a place for internship after graduation.
Prof. Ahmed Tijjani Mora, the chairman of the council, made the disclosure Saturday while briefing newsmen about the resolutions of the council’s 41st regular meeting in Abuja.
He said the average number of fresh pharmacy graduates annually is between 1500 to 1800 while the accredited internship training centres are only 380 with most of the centres at general hospitals, teaching hospitals and manufacturing facilities and community pharmacies.
He said the council was concerned about the frustrations and restlessness of young pharmacists over the issue and has set up an adhoc committee and other plans to ensure that all fresh pharmacy graduates are attached to accredited internship training centres in the country.
He said the council would also ensure a harmonized system of internship placement so that by the time the registrar is administering the oath of pharmacy on fresh graduands, they already know where they are going to do their internship.
Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharmacist Elijah Mohammed, said the federal government would soon close open drug markets in the country but had provided Coordinated Wholesale centres as an alternative to ensure there are no loss of jobs.
He said the centres are being built in Kano, Lagos and other places and once completed, open drug markets would be closed.