The West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) has called on the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to step up advocacy and implementation of the Patients' Bill of Rights across Nigeria.

This call was made during a press conference in commemoration of the 2025 World Patient Safety Day in Abuja, with the theme “Safe Care for Every Newborn and Every Child” and the slogan “Patient Safety from the Start.”

Briefing the press on Wednesday, Zonal Coordinator of WAPCP FCT Abuja Zone, Dr. Abubakar Danraka, emphasized the need to prioritize patients’ safety, particularly for newborns and children, who face disproportionately high risks of harm in healthcare settings.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), patient safety is the absence of preventable harm to a patient, and research shows that up to 97% of adverse events in neonatal care are preventable.

The WAPCP noted that patient safety risks in Nigerian healthcare settings are similar to those seen elsewhere, with common adverse events including medication errors, surgical errors, diagnostic errors, and healthcare-associated infections.

Danraka noted that consultant pharmacists have played a crucial role in promoting patient safety through medication reviews, verifying prescriptions, and educating healthcare teams and patients.

He commended eight federal agencies in the Federal Capital Territory for appointing consultant pharmacists, which has enhanced patient safety standards and fostered collaborative efforts in pharmaceutical care.

“This strategic move has greatly enhanced patient safety standards and fostered collaborative efforts in pharmaceutical care. Our appeal is passionate and clear: we strongly encourage all other healthcare institutions yet to appoint consultant-level pharmacists to do so without further delay.

“The presence of highly trained pharmacist consultants is a game-changer in the fight against medication errors and in promoting holistic patient safety across all levels of care,” he said.

He urged all healthcare institutions to appoint consultant-level pharmacists to promote holistic patient safety.

Danraka noted that by prioritizing patient safety, lives can be saved, and lifelong health outcomes can be strengthened.

He called on the Federal Ministry of Health and other health-focused institutions to prioritize patient safety in Nigeria to reduce medical mistakes and enhance healthcare outcomes.

· Pharm. Kayode Okeji, Zonal Secretary WAPCP, FCT Zone (L), Dr. Abubakar Danraka, Zonal Coordinator of WAPCP FCT Abuja Zone (M), and Pharm. Ruth Ajayi, immediate Past Zonal Coordinator (R), during a press conference in commemoration of the 2025 World Patient Safety Day in Abuja on Wednesday