A Pharmacy on Every Street Only Matters If It Has a Seat at the Table

 A pharmacy on every street only matters if it has a seat at the table. 

This was the central message I shared while speaking at the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) Unity 2026 Conference, during a session on “Politics, Policy and Community Pharmacy: Strategic Engagement for Universal Health Coverage". 

Community pharmacies remain one of the largest and most accessible parts of Nigeria’s healthcare system. Across communities, pharmacists are often among the first points of contact for people seeking healthcare advice, treatment and essential health products. 

Yet, too often, the influence of the profession ends at the pharmacy counter, while critical decisions about healthcare policy, financing and service delivery are made elsewhere. 

Moving from access to influence

 
Universal health coverage

 will not be achieved simply because pharmacies are widespread. It also requires the people working closest to communities to have a meaningful role in shaping the policies and systems that determine how healthcare is delivered.
 
For community pharmacists, this means looking beyond professional boundaries and becoming more intentional about engagement.
 
This includes:
 

• Building strategic alliances across the healthcare ecosystem. 
• Engaging constructively with policymakers and government at relevant levels. 
• Using media deliberately to contribute to public health conversations and advocacy. 
• Leading initiatives that support prevention, primary healthcare and health equity. 
• Strengthening the profession’s collective voice in spaces where healthcare decisions are made. 

Being present where decisions are made

 
Politics and policy are not only about elections or political office. They are also about participation — who is present, who contributes to the conversation, and whose experience informs decisions.
 
For community pharmacists, this presents an important opportunity.
 
The profession is already deeply embedded within communities. Pharmacists understand the everyday realities of patients, the challenges of accessing healthcare and the gaps that exist between policy and implementation.
 
The next step is ensuring that this frontline experience is represented in the rooms where policies are developed and healthcare priorities are defined.
 
Community pharmacists do not need to wait to be invited into these conversations. They can build the relationships, partnerships and platforms that position the profession as an active contributor to Nigeria’s healthcare agenda.

My appreciation goes to the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) for creating a platform for these important conversations.
 
As Nigeria continues to pursue universal health coverage, I look forward to seeing community pharmacists strengthen their role not only as accessible healthcare providers within communities but also as active voices in shaping the policies and systems that affect those communities.