Abuja, May 12, 2026 — The Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners Association of Nigeria has raised concerns over unsafe chemotherapy handling practices in Nigeria, cautioning that inadequate safety protocols and poor infrastructure pose serious risks to both cancer patients and medical personnel.
The association made the remarks during a one-day oncology pharmacy training programme held in Abuja ahead of its inaugural 2026 biennial scientific conference. More than 100 oncology pharmacists attended the session.
OPPAN emphasised the importance of enforcing internationally recognised safety standards, strengthening professional training and investing more in specialised oncology pharmacy services to minimise medication mistakes, hazardous exposure and treatment-related complications.
Speaking at the event, the association’s National Chairman, Mrs Ijeoma Okwesileze, explained that the practical training was aimed at equipping pharmacists with hands-on knowledge in oncology pharmacy practice.
She said the programme targeted licensed pharmacists interested in specialising in cancer care and was part of broader efforts to expand oncology pharmacy services and improve professional capacity across Nigeria.
According to Okwesileze, some participants also joined virtually from countries including Sierra Leone, Mauritius and Botswana.
She expressed hope that more trained oncology pharmacists would establish dedicated oncology pharmacy units in hospitals and other health institutions in line with the Federal Ministry of Health’s ChemoSafe policy.
Okwesileze also urged healthcare providers to fully incorporate oncology pharmacists into multidisciplinary cancer treatment teams, stressing that trained professionals should oversee chemotherapy preparation and reconstitution processes in healthcare facilities.
Earlier, OPPAN Assistant National Secretary, Mr AbdulRahman Abdullahi, described oncology pharmacy as a developing area of pharmacy practice in Nigeria.
He noted that outdated methods of handling chemotherapy drugs often expose patients and healthcare workers to harmful toxic substances. According to him, the lack of specialists in the field was one of the reasons behind the establishment of the association.
Also speaking, Mrs Clara Adesola, Head of the Pharmacy Department at National Hospital Abuja, said the training would strengthen healthcare delivery if participants consistently applied the recommended safety guidelines.
She added that the initiative was helping younger pharmacists gain the expertise and confidence needed to collaborate effectively with other medical professionals in the treatment and care of cancer patients.