Lagos University Teaching Hospital,Pharmacy Department Celebrates World Pharmacists Day and Launches PharmaWatch Journal

The Department of Pharmacy, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Pharmacists Day on September 25, 2025, with the theme “Think Health, Think Pharmacist.” A major highlight of the event was the official launch of the department’s new publication, the LUTH PharmaWatch Journal.
The Head of Department, Pharmacy, Pharm. Tajudeen Sonibare, delivered the welcome address. He welcomed participants to the celebration, emphasizing the importance of pharmacy in healthcare. He also reflected on the theme, underscoring the value of collaboration with other health professionals and the global impact of pharmacy practice.

Representing the Chief Medical Director (CMD), the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Babawale Bello, gave the opening remarks. He praised pharmacists as a major pillar in the healthcare system, describing them as a “gateway” to healthcare delivery. He acknowledged their critical role in medicine dispensing and patient care. He noted the CMD’s appreciation of the department’s contributions, citing the recent establishment of a 24-hour in-patient pharmacy service as a milestone that has significantly improved patient access to care. He also congratulated the department on the successful launch of the PharmaWatch Journal.
The keynote lecture was delivered by Dr. Ebele Onwuchuluba, A senior lecturer at the Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, who spoke on “The Pharmacist’s Role in Optimizing Patient Outcomes in Hospital Settings.” She emphasized the indispensability of pharmacists in modern healthcare, noting that their relevance “does not need to be argued.” Dr. Onwuchuluba highlighted the issue of medication errors, which account for over 7,000 deaths annually, and explained how collaborative practice with other healthcare professionals can reduce such errors by up to 70%.

She outlined the evolution of patient care, from disease-centered to patient-centered models, stressing the need for safe, coordinated, and holistic healthcare, especially in the face of rising chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. According to her, pharmacists complement doctors’ precision and nurses’ advocacy, ensuring patients receive quality care.
Looking to the future, she encouraged the adoption of innovations such as telepharmacy, precision/personalized medicine, and pharmacogenomics, all of which are reshaping pharmacy practice globally.

In her conclusion, she called for stronger collaboration among healthcare professionals, noting that pharmacists reduce medication errors by 50%, boost patient adherence by 20%, and cut hospital readmissions by 10%. She urged for policies that expand pharmacists’ roles and greater use of technology, including artificial intelligence, to improve patient safety and outcomes.

The event also featured remarks from the Editor-in-Chief of LUTH PharmaWatch Journal, Pharm. Augustus Asen, who expressed gratitude to the hospital management for their support in launching the journal. He commended the committee members for their dedication and contributions. The journal was formally unveiled by the Commercial Director of Fidson Healthcare.
The celebration reaffirmed the vital role of pharmacists in healthcare and marked a milestone with the launch of the LUTH PharmaWatch Journal, showcasing the department’s commitment to excellence and patient-centered care.