The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has shut down drug cluster at the Dalan Gyada, along Katsina Road, Kano for operating illegal pharmaceutical marketing in the state.

Besides, PCN sealed about 797 facilities across communities in the state for various regulatory breaches negating the principles of safe and health pharmaceutical practices in Kano.

The Registrar of the Council, Ibrahim Ahmed, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists on the outcome of a four day enforcement exercise conducted by the council in Kano.

Ahmed, who was represented by the Head of Enforcement, Suleiman Chiroma, a Director of Enforcement said the Dalan Gyada cluster was shut down due to poor quality, safety and efficacy of medicines sold there could not be guaranteed.

According to him, the council’s enforcement operations led to the inspection of 1,153 premises of which 797 facilities sealed for regulatory breaches. Ahmad added that inspected premises comprised 16 pharmacies, 700 patent and proprietary medicine stores and 437 illegal outlets.

” Those sealed included eight pharmacies, 352 patent and proprietary medicine stores and all 437 illegal outlets identified during the exercise. Over the four-day operation, the team inspected a total of 1,153 premises, comprising 16 pharmacies, 700 patent medicine stores and 437 illegal outlets.

“I wish to bring to the attention of the good people of Kano State that the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines sold at the Dalan Gyada illegal drug cluster cannot be guaranteed,” he said.

He explained that illegal premises accounted for 38 per cent of all facilities sealed during the operation due to one or more regulatory breaches. The enforcement head added that among licensed operators inspected, only 50 per cent of pharmacies were found to be in full compliance with regulatory standards, stressing the need for enhanced monitoring.

He said the exercise also revealed a significant shortage of pharmaceutical services across the areas visited, noting that pharmacies accounted for only 1.38 per cent of the 1,153 premises inspected.

The council, he said, would sustain its enforcement activities and ensure strict compliance with regulations governing the handling, storage and dispensing of medicines.

“Accordingly, all premises involved in the handling, storage and dispensing of medicines will be under strict and continuous regulatory supervision. Breach of any extant regulation will be met with prompt and appropriate enforcement action by the Council,” he warned.