Community Pharmacists Urged to Leverage Digital Technology for Better Healthcare Integration

A call has been made to community pharmacists in Nigeria to adopt digital systems to improve their connection with other healthcare professionals, thereby enhancing the efficiency and contribution of the community pharmacists to the healthcare system. The Country Director of PharmAccess Foundation, Mrs Njide Ndili, made this call during the keynote speech at the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) Continuing Education Conference in Lagos. Ndili noted that community pharmacists are central to the healthcare system but are often underutilised, serving as the first point of care but lacking the necessary digital tools to collaborate effectively with other healthcare professionals. She emphasized the need for community pharmacists to empower themselves with digital systems and technology to connect with the healthcare system, stating that nobody can solve the problem in the health sector alone. The conference, themed "Advancing Community Pharmacy Practice through Technology," aims to educate and unite community pharmacists to enhance their knowledge and skills in using digital technology for better healthcare outcomes.

Nigerian connection: The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) and the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) are both Nigerian-based organizations, highlighting the importance of digital technology in the Nigerian healthcare sector.

The next step is for community pharmacists to take up the challenge and start integrating digital technology into their practice, leveraging it to enhance community-based care and collaborate effectively with other healthcare professionals.

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The Nigerian healthcare sector stands to benefit significantly from the adoption of digital technology by community pharmacists. By embracing digital systems, community pharmacists can improve their connection with other healthcare professionals, leading to better healthcare outcomes and more efficient service delivery. This is a crucial step towards achieving the country's healthcare goals and improving the overall well-being of Nigerians.