The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) says it has sealed about 440 pharmacies and patent medicine stores in Gombe State.
Addressing journalists on the development, PCN registrar, N. A. E Mohammed disclosed that it was part of the intervention to sanitise the drug distribution chain in the country.
The registrar, who was represented by the Director of Enforcement, Stephen Esumobi, said the aim of the enforcement exercise is to ensure that all premises where medicines are sold are registered, having fulfilled conditions with respect to location, storage facilities, environment, documentation and Personnel.
According to him, “At the end of the enforcement exercise, a total of 618 premises comprising 45 pharmacies and 573 patent medicine shops were visited.
“A total of 440 premises made up of eight pharmacies and 432 patent medicine shops were sealed for various offences, some of which include operating without registration with Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, failure to renew premises license, dispensing ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage and sanitary conditions, among others; while 25 pharmacies and patent medicine shops were issued compliance directives.”
While urging members of the public to purchase their medicines from licensed pharmacies and simple household remedies from licensed patent and proprietary medicines vendors, he added that some medicines that are photosensitive are exposed to direct sunlight.
“These conditions cause degradation of medicines thus making many of them unsuitable for consumption,” he said.
