Assessment of Good Pharmacy Practice Implementation at Community Pharmacies in Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria

Good pharmacy practice guidelines, as defined by the International Pharmaceutical Federation and adopted by Nigeria's Pharmacists Council, establish the standards necessary for pharmacies to provide optimal pharmaceutical care. Implementation of these guidelines across community pharmacies in South South Nigeria remains variable. This study assessed the level of good pharmacy practice implementation at community pharmacies in Akwa Ibom State. A descriptive cross-sectional audit was conducted in 55 community pharmacies across Uyo, Eket, and Ikot Ekpene pharmacy zones. Each pharmacy was assessed using a comprehensive good pharmacy practice compliance checklist covering premises standards, pharmacist qualifications, medicine quality assurance, patient care services, and professional development activities. A mean compliance score of 61 percent was recorded. Physical premises compliance, including signage, layout, and storage conditions, was the highest-scoring domain at 74 percent. Patient care services including medication use reviews and chronic disease monitoring were the lowest-scoring at 38 percent. Pharmacist availability during full operating hours was confirmed in only 52 percent of pharmacies. Continuing professional development participation within the preceding two years was documented in 66 percent of pharmacists interviewed. Pharmacies in Uyo metropolis outperformed those in other zones. The study recommends incremental compliance timelines, tiered incentive structures, and peer-mentorship programs to raise good pharmacy practice implementation levels across all three pharmacy zones in Akwa Ibom State. Keywords: good pharmacy practice, community pharmacy, Akwa Ibom State, pharmaceutical care, pharmacy standards