Nigeria: 319 patent medicine shops and 115 pharmacies have been sealed in the Plateau State of Nigeria by the PCN (Pharmacists Council of Nigeria) for the violation of laid down rules as well as other guidelines.
Stephen Esimobi, the Director of Enforcement of the PCN, disclosed this on Friday, July 8. As per him, the national enforcement team of the PCN had been in the state for enforcement since July this year.
Esumobi found the causes the facilities were sealed as a failure to resume premises licence, functioning without any legal registration with the PCN, dispensing ethical products that include the substance of abuse without the control of a pharmacist, and carrying out some activities that are beyond the limit of their licence as well as poor storage and sanitary conditions.
Several of these patent medicine vendors were not registered with the PCN, and they worked in total breach of the regulations of the council.
These unlawful premises have become channels for the distribution as well as the sale of substances of abuse to members of the general public.
He stated, “the major goal of the unregistered premises is to earn a profit as they do not have regard for the safety and security of the public who patronise them.”
Esumobi further added that the council has stepped up its activities to ensure that all unregistered premises are shut down.
Therefore, he cautioned the members of the public to make sure that medicines were bought from licensed pharmacies.
