Community Pharmacy Practice Standards and Regulatory Compliance in Oyo State, South West Nigeria: A Professional Assessment

The quality of community pharmacy practice is governed by regulatory standards set by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, yet compliance levels vary significantly across Nigerian states. This study assessed community pharmacy practice standards and regulatory compliance in Oyo State, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey combined with facility inspection was conducted across 80 purposively selected community pharmacies in four senatorial districts. The assessment tool was adapted from Pharmacists Council of Nigeria accreditation criteria, covering pharmacist presence, drug storage conditions, documentation practices, availability of emergency medicines, and customer service standards. Overall compliance with minimum practice standards was recorded in 58 percent of facilities. Full-time pharmacist presence was documented in only 46 percent, with many pharmacies operating under the supervision of unqualified dispensers during off-peak hours. Drug storage conditions were inadequate in 39 percent, particularly regarding temperature control for cold-chain medicines. Emergency medicines including adrenaline and glucagon were stocked in fewer than 30 percent of surveyed pharmacies. Documentation of dispensing records was absent in 51 percent of pharmacies. Urban pharmacies demonstrated significantly higher compliance than those in peri-urban areas. The findings call for increased Pharmacists Council of Nigeria inspection frequency, accreditation renewal enforcement, and peer mentoring programs between high-performing and low-performing pharmacies. Pharmacy owners should be held personally accountable for standards violations under strengthened regulatory frameworks. Keywords: community pharmacy, regulatory compliance, Oyo State, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, pharmacy standards