Lagos pharmacist shortage has drawn fresh concern from the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), which warned that the growing manpower gap is weakening drug regulation and patient safety across the state. The society called on the Lagos State Government to urgently intervene, citing pressure on pharmaceutical services within the Ministry of Health and other public health institutions.
Pharmaceutical services form a critical part of Nigeria’s healthcare system, covering drug regulation, quality control, and patient safety. In Lagos, the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services (DPS) oversees these functions within the Ministry of Health.
However, the system has come under strain due to staffing challenges. The PSN noted that expansion of pharmaceutical responsibilities across multiple agencies, including the Health Service Commission, Primary Healthcare Board, and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, has stretched available personnel.
The Lagos pharmacist shortage reflects broader national concerns about workforce gaps in the health sector, including migration of skilled professionals and uneven distribution of personnel.
Chairman of PSN Lagos, Olaitan Ogunlade, raised the concern during the 2026 Annual Luncheon of the society held in Lagos. He stated that the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services, once considered a leading institution, is now facing a severe manpower deficit.
According to him, the DPS currently operates with limited personnel, leaving one functional director to supervise more than ten operational units. He warned that the shortage is affecting statutory responsibilities, including pharmaceutical inspections, drug quality control, enforcement against counterfeit medicines, and public health programmes.
Ogunlade also raised concerns about encroachment into pharmacists’ roles, noting that drug handling and dispensing must be supervised by qualified professionals as required by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act. “The shortage has led to encroachment into pharmacists’ statutory roles,” he said, stressing that all drug-related operations must comply with professional regulations.
To address the Lagos pharmacist shortage, the PSN urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to approve immediate recruitment of pharmacists into the state civil service. The group also recommended redeploying senior pharmacists from other agencies back to the Ministry of Health as a temporary measure.
The Lagos pharmacist shortage raises concerns about drug safety and regulatory oversight in one of Nigeria’s largest healthcare systems. Reduced supervision capacity may increase the risk of counterfeit medicines and improper drug handling.
The situation also highlights structural challenges in health workforce planning, particularly as responsibilities expand without corresponding staffing levels. For policymakers, the development underscores the need for targeted recruitment, workforce redistribution, and sustained investment in pharmaceutical services to maintain healthcare standards.
