Regulation and the Pharmacy Technician's Professional Role
8 minute read
What you will learn
- Name the main bodies that regulate medicines and pharmacy practice in Nigeria
- Explain what each body does in simple terms
- Describe the professional duties of a pharmacy technician
- Explain the limits of a technician's role
- Describe professional conduct at work
- Explain why continuing learning is a professional duty
Key points
- The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) regulates and controls pharmacy education, training and practice.
- NAFDAC regulates the registration, safety and quality of medicines, food and other products, including fake and substandard products.
- NDLEA enforces the law on narcotic drugs and illegal substances.
- A technician practises under the supervision of a pharmacist and within the limits of their training.
- Professional duties include accuracy, honesty, confidentiality, record keeping and reporting concerns.
- Good conduct includes punctuality, respect, a neat appearance and teamwork.
- Learning must continue throughout a career, because medicines and rules change.
Why regulation exists
Medicines can heal or harm, and patients cannot judge their quality for themselves. So governments set rules and appoint regulators to protect the public. A pharmacy technician must know who regulates what, and follow the rules.
This lesson gives the main roles of the bodies in Nigeria. Details of laws and regulations change, so check your school's notes and the current regulations for the exact wording.
The main bodies
| Body | Main role |
|---|---|
| Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) | Regulates and controls the education, training and practice of pharmacy, including the registration of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy premises, and the standards of professional conduct |
| National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) | Regulates the registration, importation, manufacture, quality and safety of medicines, foods and other regulated products, and acts against fake and substandard products |
| National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) | Enforces the law on narcotic drugs and illegal substances |
| Federal and State Ministries of Health | Make health policy, and run public health services and supply programmes |
| Professional associations | Represent members and support professional standards and training |
A technician usually deals most with PCN rules on practice and NAFDAC rules on products.
What the rules mean at work
- Only registered or properly supervised persons may carry out pharmacy tasks, in registered premises.
- Medicines must be registered and in date, and from approved suppliers.
- Prescription-only medicines are supplied only on a valid prescription.
- Controlled drugs need extra security and records.
- Fake, substandard or expired products must not be sold, and must be reported.
- A pharmacist is responsible for the pharmacy, and for supervising its staff.
The technician's professional duties
| Duty | In practice |
|---|---|
| Accuracy | Dispense and record correctly, and check twice |
| Honesty | Be truthful about stock, prices and mistakes |
| Confidentiality | Protect patient information |
| Safety | Store, handle and dispose of medicines safely |
| Teamwork | Support the pharmacist and colleagues, and communicate clearly |
| Record keeping | Keep accurate stock, dispensing and cash records |
| Reporting | Tell the pharmacist about errors, suspect products, adverse reactions and unsafe practice |
| Learning | Keep up to date with medicines, rules and practice |
Limits of the role
A technician does not:
- prescribe medicines or diagnose illness;
- change a prescription;
- supervise the pharmacy alone, without a pharmacist;
- give advice beyond their training, without the pharmacist's guidance;
- supply prescription-only medicines without a valid prescription and pharmacist approval.
When something is beyond the role, refer it to the pharmacist. This is a mark of a professional, not a weakness.
Professional conduct
- Be on time, reliable and properly dressed, with a clean coat and name badge.
- Respect patients and colleagues, whatever their background.
- Use polite, clear language and avoid slang or jokes about patients.
- Keep personal phone use away from the counter.
- Do not smoke, eat or drink in the dispensing area.
- Keep the premises clean and tidy.
- Do not spread rumours, or discuss patients outside work.
- Do not take pharmacy stock or money for personal use.
- Do not use the pharmacy's name to advertise anything unlawful.
Reporting concerns
If you notice:
- a suspect or fake product,
- an adverse reaction to a medicine,
- an error,
- unsafe or unlawful practice,
tell the pharmacist at once. The pharmacist decides whether to report to NAFDAC, the PCN or another authority, following the proper procedure.
Keeping up to date
Medicines, guidelines and rules change. A good technician:
- reads notices from the regulators and employers;
- attends training and continuing education;
- asks questions when unsure;
- learns from mistakes, their own and others'.
Exam focus
- Name three bodies that regulate medicines or pharmacy in Nigeria, and say what each does.
- State the limits of a pharmacy technician's role.
- State the professional duties of a technician.
- Common mistake: mixing up the roles of PCN, NAFDAC and NDLEA.
Quick check
Test yourself before you move on. Pick an answer to see the explanation.
1.Which body regulates pharmacy education, training and practice in Nigeria?
2.Which body is mainly responsible for the registration and quality of medicines sold in Nigeria?
3.A pharmacy technician should:
4.You suspect that a product on the shelf is fake. The correct action is to:
5.Why is continuing learning part of professional duty?