Lagos HSC Hosts 2025 Pharmacists’ Retreat on Integrated Healthcare

The Lagos State Health Service Commission (HSC) successfully convened a dynamic two-day non-residential retreat for over 70 senior pharmacists from Grade Level 15 and above, serving in the state’s 29 general hospitals. Hosted at The Zone along the Gbagada-Oworonshiki Expressway in Gbagada, the Year 2025 event centered on the theme “Breaking Silos: Practical Pathways to Integrated Healthcare Delivery.” This initiative underscores HSC’s ongoing push to foster synergy among healthcare professionals amid Lagos’s growing population and healthcare demands.

Experts delivered insightful presentations tackling critical challenges in healthcare collaboration. Key sessions included “From Silos to Synergy: Building a Culture of Collaboration Among Healthcare Leaders,” which explored strategies for unified leadership; “The Collaborative Leader: Mastering Relational Intelligence to Dissolve Institutional Silos,” focusing on interpersonal skills for institutional harmony; “From Policy to Practice: Strengthening Operational Collaboration Between LASHMA and Secondary Healthcare Facilities in Lagos State,” highlighting ties between the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) and hospitals; and “Continuity of Care Across Transition: The Pharmacist’s Role from Admission to Discharge and Beyond,” detailing pharmacists’ pivotal contributions to patient journeys.

The retreat blended education with engagement through interactive elements like a “Family Discussion” panel, lively games, dances, and quirky awards for early risers. Participants crafted a comprehensive retreat communiqué and actionable plans to drive implementation, ensuring sustained impact on service delivery.

Dr. Cecilia Abimbola Mabogunje, the Commission’s Permanent Secretary, delivered a compelling address championing teamwork. She spotlighted pharmacists’ indispensable role in the medication supply chain and overall health outcomes, calling for an end to isolated operations. “We need to work together as a team so that our patients can get the best experience ever,” she urged, advocating open communication and partnerships with doctors, nurses, and other providers.

The event drew notable figures, including former HSC Permanent Secretary Dr. Jemilade Longe, alongside key directors: Dr. Olawale Adegbite (Medical Services), Mrs. Abosede Olushi (Finance and Accounts), and Pharm. Modupe Bakare (Director of Pharmaceutical Services), who steered the program’s vibrant activities. Attendees voiced heartfelt gratitude to HSC and the Lagos State Government for this timely intervention, praising its relevance in enhancing public health services.

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This retreat aligns with broader HSC efforts under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration to modernize healthcare. Recent state initiatives, such as the digital integration of patient records across facilities and LASHMA’s expanded coverage for over 1.5 million enrollees as of late 2025, amplify the need for such collaborative training. Pharmacists, often the unsung heroes in ensuring safe drug dispensing and counseling, play a vital role in Lagos’s primary and secondary care ecosystem, where the state operates 29 general hospitals serving millions annually.

Participants left energized, committed to applying these insights for seamless patient care—from admission through discharge and follow-up. The retreat’s success signals HSC’s proactive stance in building a resilient, integrated health workforce for Lagos residents.