Pharmacists to FG: Implement approved consultant cadre, call duty allowances harmonisation

The Association of Hospi­tal and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) has urged the federal government to imple­ment the approved Consultant Pharmacist Cadre and Harmon­isation of Call Duty Allowance and Other Related Allowances for Pharmacists with Doctor of Pharmacy Degree.

Pharm. Olabode Ogunjemiyo (FPSN), the National Chairman of AHAPN, made the call in a letter which was addressed to Kachollom Daju, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Abuja, on April 5, 2024, reports Daily Independent.

The letter which was entitled, “Re: Implementation of Con­sultant Pharmacist Cadre and Harmonisation of Call Duty Al­lowance and Other Related Al­lowances for Pharmacists with Doctor of Pharmacy Degree,” stressed the need for approved four percent call duty allowance implementation.

Pharm. Ogunjemiyo specifical­ly urged the ministry to imple­ment the approved four percent call duty allowance on the Inte­grated Payroll Personnel Infor­mation System (IPPIS) platform for pharmacists like those of their optometrists’ counterparts for ease of access by the various federal health institutions (FHIs) for the payment of Pharm. D. holders.

He said the non-implementa­tion of the policy has prevented pharmacists from enjoying the remunerations since the approv­al was given.

The AHAPN National Chair­man told the Permanent Secre­tary, “We are particularly happy about your efforts in ensuring that the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre and harmonisation of call duty allowance for Pharmacists with a Doctor of Pharmacy De­gree becomes a reality. However, I wish to bring to your notice the circulars that are yet to be imple­mented.”

Pharmacists Consultant Cadre

According to him, the circu­lar from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with reference number C5516/Vol.11/289 and dated September 14, 2023, expressly directed the immediate implementation of the Pharmacist Consultant Cadre on CONHESS 13-15.

He also recalled a circular from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with reference number DHS/1039/1/55 and dated October 10, 2023, requesting for issuance of approved establish­ment positions for Consultant Pharmacist Cadre in Federal Ter­tiary Institutions by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSOF).

He said the circular requested the release of approved estab­lishment positions for each of the Federal Tertiary Institutions for compliance and seamless op­erationalisation of the circular.

He therefore urged the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSOF) to re­lease the establishment positions for the various FHIs for the con­version of relevant officers as stipulated in the relevant circu­lars.

He also called on the OHCSOF to direct the creation of the spe­cialist allowance on the IPPIS platform for access by the vari­ous Federal Health Institutions across the nation.

Call Duty Allowance

On the call for a four percent call duty allowance for Pharm D Holders, Pharm. Ogunjemiyo cited the circular from the Feder­al Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with reference number DHS/419/S.2/T/74 and dated Oc­tober 19, 2023.

According to him, the circu­lar directed the harmonisation of call duty allowance and other related allowances for pharma­cists with a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree with that of a Doctor of Optometry.

The letter reads, “The circu­lar from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with reference number C5516/Vol.11/289 and dated September 14, 2023, refers. The circular ex­pressly directed the immediate implementation of the Pharma­cist Consultant Cadre on CON­HESS 13-15.

“In a related development, a circular from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with reference number DHS/1039/1/55 and dated 10th October 2023 requesting for issu­ance of approved establishment positions for Consultant Phar­macist Cadre in Federal Tertia­ry Institutions by the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSOF) refers. The circular requested the release of approved establishment positions for each of the Federal Tertiary Institutions for compliance and seamless operationalisation of the circular.

“Prayers: The office of the Head of Civil Service of the Fed­eration (OHCSOF) should releasethe establishment positions for the various FHIs for the conver­sion of relevant officers as stip­ulated in the relevant circulars.

“It should also direct the cre­ation of the specialist allowance on the Integrated Payroll Person­nel Information System (IPPIS) platform for access by the vari­ous Federal Health Institutions across the nation.

“Four percent call duty allow­ance for Pharm D Holders. The circular from the Federal Minis­try of Health and Social Welfare with reference number DHS/419/S.2/T/74 and dated October 19, 2023, refers. The circular directed the harmonization of call duty allowance and other related al­lowances for pharmacists with a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree with that of a Doctor of Optometry.

“Prayer: Creation of the four percent call duty allowance on the IPPIS platform for Pharma­cists like those of their Optom­etrists counterparts for ease of access by the various FHIs for the payment of Pharm.D hold­ers. This is what has prevented Pharmacists from enjoying the remunerations since approval was given,” he added.

He thanked the Permanent Secretary for the roles he was playing to ensure that no pro­fession is shortchanged in the health sector and expressed hope that the AHAPN prayers would be given accelerated positive re­sponses.

Recall that on the implemen­tation of the approved Scheme of Service for Pharmacist Con­sultant Cadre, Kachollom issued a Circular Ref. No. HCSF/CSo/HRM/1274/T3 of September 11, 2020, on the approved Scheme of Service for Pharmacist Consul­tant Cadre.

The circular provided cer­tain clarification, noting, “The Pharmacist Consultant Cadre is distinct from the already-in-ex­istence Pharmacist Cadre Struc­ture on sGL. 10 – 17 for holders of B. Pharm.

“A transition from the Pharma­cist Cadre to the Pharmacist Con­sultant Cadre is by conversion in line with extant rules in which case officers on Pharmacy Cad­re on SGL 15 convert laterally to the Pharmacist Consultant Cadre on SGL.15 on the acquisition ofthe requisite qualification. This is subject to the availability of vacancies like Pharmacists on the lower SGL, on qualification, would be advanced to SGL. 15,” it added.

The circular therefore directed for the immediate implementa­tion of the Pharmacist Consul­tant Cadre with strict adherence to the clarification/guidelines provided by the OHCSF and in Circular Ref. No. HCSF/SPSO/DD/E&WP/64508/11/174 of June 9, 2021, to ensure a uniform imple­mentation.

Similarly, Ogunjemiyo’s letter quoted a circular on September 6, 2023, on the guidance and clarifi­cation for the implementation of a Consultant Pharmacist Cadre in Federal Tertiary Hospitals.

The circular was titled, “Re­quest for Issuance of Approved Establishment Positions For Con­sultant Pharmacist Cadre in Fed­eral Tertiary Hospitals and was signed by Kachollom.

It requested for the release of approved Establishment posi­tions for the Consultant Pharma­cist Cadre for each of the Federal Tertiary Hospitals for Compli­ance and seamless operation of the circular.

The circular reads, “I write to refer to your letter Reference number HCSF/SPSO/ODD/NCE/CND.100/S.4/91 dated Sep­tember 6, 2023, on the guidance and clarification for the imple­mentation of a Consultant Phar­macist Cadre in Federal Tertiary Hospitals.

“In recognition of the statuto­ry mandate of the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Fed­eration to issue guidance on the Establishment position for cadres in the Federal Civil Service of the Federation.

“I hereby humbly request that you kindly release approved Es­tablishment positions for the Consultant Pharmacist Cadre for each of the Federal Tertiary Hos­pitals for Compliance and seam­less operation of the circular.”

“In conclusion, we want to thank you for the roles you are playing to ensure that no profes­sion is shortchanged in the health sector. We shall be grateful if our prayers are given accelerated pos­itive responses,” Ogunjemiyo’s letter read.