Difference Between The Pharmaceutical Society Of Nigeria (PSN) And The Pharmacists Council Of Nigeria (PCN)

The difference between the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and the Pharmaceutical society of Nigeria (PSN) have been ongoing for quite some time now. They are not the same and do not perform the same function. Although, both are working together hand in hand to give the pharmacy profession in Nigeria a good name.

PSN vs PSN

Definition Of PSN And PCN

Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) is a professional body for practicing pharmacists in Nigeria and was established in the year 1927 to instill discipline and maintain professional ethics among members of the organization. In 1956, the association was formally incorporated under its Articles of Association and was recognized as a professional society in Nigeria by the Federal government.

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) is a Federal Government parastatal established by Act 91 of 1992 (Cap P17 LFN 2004) charged with the responsibility for regulating and controlling Pharmacy Education, Practice and Training in all aspects and ramifications. Pursuant to this, the PCN is responsible for the accreditation of training institutions, registration and licensure of all Pharmacists, Pharmaceutical Premises (Manufacturing, Importation, Distribution, Wholesale, Retail, Hospital Pharmacies) as well as the issuance of Permit to Pharmacy Technicians and registration and Licensure of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to create an enabling and regulated environment for the provision of quality pharmaceutical services for sustainable health care delivery.

Mission Statement

Our Mission is to effectively regulate and control the training and practice of pharmaceutical service providers through the instrumentality of capacity building.

Aims and Objectives Of PSN

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria was established with the following aims and objectives:

1. To maintain a high standard of Professional ethics and discipline among its members

2. To promote and maintain a high standard of Pharmaceutical Education in Nigeria

3. To promote legislation for the enhancement of the image and the interest of the Pharmacy Profession and the Practitioners in Nigeria.

4. To collate and disseminate statistical, scientific and other information relating to Pharmacy and publish such in an Official Journal

5. To advise on Labour conditions relating to Pharmacists.

Who Are The Members PSN And PCN

The PSN is composed of four sets of members within the association. They are:

1. Full Membership: They are registered pharmacist within Nigeria

2. Associate Member: They are interns pharmacist

3. Affiliate Member: Final year pharmacy students

4. Honorary Membership: Open to pharmacist registered in their country of domicile a d are non Nigerian with important contribution to the practice in Nigeria

The PCN comprises 2 membership categories. This includes;

1. Member: Comprises of fully registered pharmacists who have passed the councils examination

2. Associate Member: A formal member that has been deemed fit by the council to be upgraded following a formal application

Function Of PSN And PCN

As for some of the more specific functions of PSN, these include:

1. Investigating acts of unethical misconduct and indiscipline among Pharmacists and making recommendations to the National Council;

2. Initiating sustainable policies and facilitating advocacy programmes that could launder the corporate image of pharmacists and pharmacy in general;

3. Evaluating pharmacy and drug statutes that should match the practitioners’ expectations; Mentoring pharmacy students;

4. Designing sustainable schemes that could protect the future of pharmacists;

5. Alleviating pharmacists’ discomforts with the help of welfare programmes;

6. Conducting surveys and studies in areas of critical concern in pharmacy practice and so on.

Functions of PCN include;

1. It determines what standard of knowledge and skill are to be attained by persons seeking to become pharmacists in Nigeria

2. Establishes and maintains a register of pharmacists and secures the publication from time to time of the list of those names as entered in the register

3. Issues pharmacists oath and code of ethics

4. Appoints pharmaceutical inspectors to ensure the enforcement of the provisions of the law by inspection and monitoring of premises where pharmaceutical endeavours take place

5. Maintains a register of pharmacy technicians

Councils Of PSN And PCN

The Council of the Society is made up of the following:-

1. All State Branch Chairmen/Secretaries (including Abuja)

2. All the elected members of the national executive council (NEC), immediate past President including Unofficial Members

3. Chairmen of the recognized Technical/-Interest Groups

4. Directors of Pharmaceutical Services or Chief Pharmacists

5. The Registrar of the PCN

6. All Deans of approved Schools/Faculties of Pharmacy of Nigerian Universities

7. The National President of the PANS or his representative

8. A representative from the Teaching Hospitals’ Pharmaceutical Services

9. Chairman, Board of Fellows

10. The Director-General of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD)

11. The most senior Pharmacist in the Pharmaceutical Department of the Federal Ministry of Health

12. A representative of the Armed Forces, the Customs and the Nigeria Police Forces who must be Pharmacists

13. PSN representatives in the PCN

14. The Executive Secretary of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists

15. Director-General of NAFDAC (if a Pharmacist, or the most senior Pharmacist in NAFDAC)

The Council of the PCN is made up of the following:-

1. Chairman: To be selected based on certain qualities; Professional practise for at least 15 years. The tenure of the chairman is limited to 3 years tenure, after which re-election may be considered for the maximum of a single tenure.

2. From the Federal Ministry Of Health, a pharmacist who is the director of food and drugs administration and control or any high ranking pharmacist from the Ministry

3. The president of the PSN

4. The directors of pharmaceutical services for each state ministry of 36 states including the Federal capital territory (FCT)

5. The deans of every accredited pharmacy school

6. Eight members from selected states of the 6 geopolitical areas. Members to be appointed by the minister on recommendation from the PSN -no more than a member from each state

7. The registrar -as secretary to the council and discipline tribune