Abstract
The pharmacists’ slogan reads “as men of honour we join hands.” This study was aimed at assessing the perception and readiness to forming/running cooperative societies from the perspectives of the pharmacists’ technical groups in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey method was adopted using a structured questionnaire was used to obtain data bordering on respondents’ socio-demographic status, perception of concept of cluster/cooperative groups alongside willingness to engage in such formation. A total of 156 respondents (male 61, 39 % and female 95, 61%) participated in the study. The distribution of technical group of respondents were community practice (CP) 65(42.0%), academia (AP) 20 (13.0%), industrial (IP) 25 (16.0%) and hospital practice (HP) 46(29.0%). Respondents who were currently part of a non-pharmacist-member group and pharmacist-member group were 31% and 2%, respectively. 99% of the Respondents agree that persons of same mind/interest should come together to achieve progress. A total of 35% of total respondents believe pharmacists have too many associations/groups already and it is burdensome adding more93% of total respondents were not aware of any pharmacists-only group around them while 75% of them believe forming such groups can empower pharmacists but 23% have a negative disposition to this notion. Respondents from CP had significantly favourable disposition to creating the cooperative group than IP (p=0.0.0001), AP (p=0.023), HP (p=0.019). Pharmacists in CP and AP are more ready to form cooperative society for common interest than their colleagues in other technical groups.