The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos State Branch, has raised concern over a growing pharmacist shortage Lagos, warning that the situation is weakening drug regulation and posing risks to public health. The group called on the Lagos State Government to urgently intervene to restore balance within the state’s pharmaceutical system.
The PSN is the umbrella professional body for pharmacists in Nigeria, responsible for promoting standards and ethics in pharmaceutical practice. Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria
Lagos State has historically maintained a structured pharmaceutical regulatory system through its Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services (DPS), which oversees drug inspection, counterfeit control, and essential medicine programmes. However, sustained workforce gaps have raised concerns about the system’s ability to maintain oversight.
Recent shifts in workforce distribution across health agencies have contributed to operational strain, with pharmacists moving into other institutions within the state health system.
Speaking at the 2026 Annual Luncheon and inauguration ceremony in Lagos, the PSN Lagos Chairman, Pharm. Olaitan Ogunlade, described the situation as a “dangerous depletion” of pharmacists in the Lagos State Ministry of Health.
He stated that the pharmacist shortage Lagos has left the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services under pressure, noting that the unit now operates with limited personnel despite overseeing more than ten operational units.
According to Ogunlade, the directorate, once regarded as a national model, is now “under severe strain” due to staffing shortages and structural fragmentation. He warned that gaps created by the pharmacist shortage Lagos are weakening compliance systems and increasing the risk of statutory breaches in drug handling and regulation.
Ogunlade also raised concerns about what he described as “encroachment into statutory pharmaceutical functions,” citing alleged violations of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act 2022. “Section 22 of the PCN Act is clear: drug facilities must be under the direct supervision of superintendent pharmacists. Any deviation is not only illegal but potentially dangerous to public health,” he said.
The pharmacist shortage Lagos has direct implications for drug safety, regulatory enforcement, and healthcare delivery in Nigeria’s most populous state. Weak regulatory oversight may increase exposure to counterfeit or improperly handled medicines.
The situation also highlights broader workforce distribution challenges within the health sector, where shortages in critical areas can affect system-wide efficiency. Sustained gaps in pharmaceutical regulation may undermine public confidence in healthcare systems and affect treatment outcomes.
