ACPN opens Unity 2026 Conference with health insurance walk
A cross-section of community pharmacists at the rally. Abuja came alive on Monday as the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) formally commenced its 45th Annual International Scientific. . .
A cross-section of community pharmacists at the rally. Abuja came alive on Monday as the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) formally commenced its 45th Annual International Scientific Conference with a health insurance awareness walk, rallying Nigerians to embrace health insurance as a pathway to quality, affordable and accessible healthcare. The conference, holding at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre (BATICC) from 27 July to 1 August, is themed “From Local Pharmacy Practice to Global Impact: Managing Complex Political Systems. ”Tagged “Walk for Health Insurance,” the advocacy campaign was led by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Kelechi Ohiri, under the theme “Health Insurance for All: Leaving No One Behind. ” The walk began at the conference venue, traversed Area 10, the Force Headquarters and parts of Garki before returning to the centre. Participants carried banners and placards bearing messages such as “Insure Today, Assure Tomorrow,” “Healthcare is a Necessity, Not a Luxury,” “Protect Your Family, Protect Your Future,” and “Health Insurance for All: Leaving No One Behind,” while urging Nigerians to embrace health insurance as a means of reducing the financial burden associated with healthcare. Addressing journalists after the exercise, National Chairman of ACPN, Pharm. Ambrose Ezeh Igwekamma, said the association deliberately dedicated this year’s awareness walk to health insurance because of the increasing burden of out-of-pocket healthcare spending on Nigerians. Other participants at the health insurance walk. According to him, while previous editions focused largely on campaigns against drug abuse, ACPN considered it imperative to support the Federal Government’s drive towards universal health coverage by encouraging every Nigerian to enrol in health insurance. He noted that many Nigerians still struggle to access healthcare because of financial constraints, adding that health insurance remains one of the most effective ways of ensuring that citizens receive needed care without suffering economic hardship. Ezeh described community pharmacists as indispensable stakeholders in healthcare delivery, citing studies that show a significant percentage of Nigerians first seek healthcare advice from pharmacists because of their accessibility within communities. He stressed that despite challenges confronting community pharmacy practice, pharmacists would continue to support initiatives that improve public health and expand access to healthcare services. According to him, community pharmacists contribute significantly to disease prevention and health promotion through medication counselling, health education, blood pressure monitoring, diabetes care, immunisation, vaccination and other primary healthcare interventions. The ACPN chairman further urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of seeking medical attention early instead of waiting until illnesses become severe, noting that timely intervention remains one of the most effective ways of preventing avoidable complications and deaths. Also speaking, National Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Gafar T. Medehin, described health insurance as the most sustainable framework for achieving universal health coverage and quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria. He lamented that more than two decades after the introduction of health insurance in the country, coverage remains below 10 per cent, a situation he said continues to limit access to quality healthcare for millions of Nigerians. According to Medehin, countries with advanced healthcare systems have successfully leveraged health insurance to build infrastructure, strengthen service delivery and provide quality healthcare for their citizens. He therefore called on government, healthcare professionals and citizens to work together to expand enrolment in health insurance schemes, stressing that every Nigerian, irrespective of social or economic status, should have access to healthcare coverage. The PSN National Secretary maintained that the National Health Insurance Authority Act provides opportunities for all healthcare professionals to contribute meaningfully to healthcare delivery, emphasising that effective implementation and adherence to professional boundaries are essential for the system to function optimally. He noted that healthcare delivery thrives when every professional operates within their area of competence while collaborating with others as members of a multidisciplinary healthcare team. Medehin further urged the government to strengthen confidence in the health insurance system by ensuring transparency, fairness and adequate funding, particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, students and the elderly. According to him, expanding health insurance coverage to 70 or 80 per cent of the population would significantly increase resources available for healthcare delivery and improve access to quality services across the country. He emphasised that health insurance remains the most viable mechanism for mobilising the resources required to build a resilient healthcare system capable of meeting the needs of all Nigerians. The health insurance walk marked the opening activity of the ACPN’s flagship annual conference, which is expected to attract community pharmacists, policymakers, regulators, academics, industry leaders and other stakeholders from across Nigeria and beyond. Over the next few days, participants will engage in scientific sessions, policy dialogues, exhibitions and strategic discussions aimed at strengthening community pharmacy practice and enhancing its contribution to healthcare delivery, in line with the conference theme of moving “From Local Pharmacy Practice to Global Impact: Managing Complex Political Systems. ”