By Abasi Ita
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria has called for friendly tax environment and reduce multiple taxation in the health sector to help bring down the soaring cost of drugs across the country fuelling the proliferation of fake and substandard products in the sector.
The appeal was made during the association’s 2026 Business Summit held in Calabar with the theme “Tax Reforms: Impact on Community Pharmacy Practice.”
Speaking at the summit, National Chairman of the association, Ezeh Igwekamma, said the current economic environment and tax burden on healthcare businesses are placing severe pressure on community pharmacists and contributing to rising drug prices.
He noted that community pharmacists remain a critical part of Nigeria’s healthcare system, with millions of Nigerians relying on them daily for access to medicines and basic healthcare services.
“Seventy percent of Nigerians access healthcare through community pharmacists before going to the hospital. We are critical stakeholders in the health sector and we need policies that reflect that role,” he said.
Igwekamma stressed that excessive taxation and harsh business conditions could further limit access to affordable medicines, especially for low income earners and residents of rural communities.
He called on government to introduce incentives for pharmacists operating in underserved areas, insisting that improving access to healthcare would strengthen the nation’s economy and wellbeing.
Cross River State Chairman of the association, Iyke Okafor, said recent tax reforms have created uncertainty within the profession, leaving many practitioners struggling to understand their obligations.
According to him, the summit provided an opportunity for pharmacists to understand the reforms, engage experts and position themselves for compliance.
“We are the first line of healthcare providers. Practitioners suffer when there are tax issues without clarity,” he said.
Tax expert Akpanke Ogar said the reforms became necessary because previous tax laws were too complex, discouraged business growth and failed to generate adequate revenue.
He highlighted key obligations expected of taxpayers, including registration, timely filing of returns and proper documentation of financial records.
In a lecture titled “Maximizing Tax Liabilities Through Documentation and Compliance,” Ndubuisi Nwoko warned that pharmacists risk missing the benefits of the new reforms if they fail to maintain proper documentation and comply with tax regulations.
Also speaking, Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Egbe Ayuk outlined ongoing reforms by the state government in drug management, including the establishment of a drug management agency aimed at improving the availability of quality medicines across the state.