The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, has kicked against the proposed establishment of Surrogacy Commission, National Accreditation and Standards Commission, Tertiary Health Institutions Commission and Sickle Cell Research and Therapy Centres across the six geopolitical zones and FCT.
The association described the proposal by the National Assembly as legally unnecessary, economically unrealistic, and administratively wasteful.
ACPN National Chairman, Pharmacist Ambrose Ezeh and National Secretary, Pharmacist Omokhafe Ashore, in a statement on Wednesday, cautioned the National Assembly against what it described as unnecessary bureaucracies.
DAILY POST gathered that the National Assembly had earlier held public hearings on the proposed establishment of a Surrogacy Commission, a National Accreditation and Standards Commission, a Tertiary Health Institutions Commission, and Sickle Cell Research and Therapy Centres in the six geopolitical zones and FCT.
Our correspondent learnt that public hearings were held at House of Representatives on November 18, 2025, and at Senate on November 24, 2025 respectively.
But, ACPN in the statement noted that existing national research institutions such as Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) remain underfunded.
They explained that any attempt to establish these agencies in the six geopolitical zones will amount to a waste of resources.
The duo, “The attempt to create three Commissions from the legal structures established in NH-Act 2014 is unnecessary.
“What is missing has been adequate oversight responsibilities by the National Assembly, which ought to insist on providing a robust budget that positions the NTHISC to carry out its statutory responsibilities.
“The proposal to set up seven Research and Therapy Centres at once is both preposterous and unrealistic.
“What looks pragmatic is to set up one central Sickle Cell Research Centre and establish more therapy centres in the 73 Federal Health Institutions to improve advocacy, counselling, and treatment of Nigerians rather than creating new jobs ‘for the boys’ in an already battle-weary Health Sector.”
