Council shuts 160 drug shops

Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed five pharmaceutical firms and 155 drug shops in Akwa Ibom for non-compliance with extant laws.

Also, it was learnt that most of the affected shops were shut for dispensing poisons and discharging other unwholesome services to the public.

The Deputy Director and Head of Enforcement, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, PCN, Abuja, Stephen Esumobi who made the disclosure at the weekend while briefing journalists after a one-week tour of councils in the state, noted that that the affected firms were earlier cautioned, threatening legal action against any one of them that breaches the exercise.

“While the level of compliance by premises in the state capital is encouraging, this cannot be said of most premises in the local government. It is observed that so many premises commenced operations without following the laid down guidelines, while many of the premises are located in environments that are not conducive for the sale of medicines, so many others failed to meet minimum requirements for storage and personnel, thus exposing members of the public to the danger of consuming medicines whose quality, safety and efficacy cannot be guaranteed.

“Our enforcement teams have been in Akwa Ibom State since the beginning of this week. The teams were in the state capital and 17 local government areas which include Uruan, Itu, Abak, Oruk Anam, Ukanafun, Mkpat Enim, Ikot Abasi, Etim Ekpo, Onna, Etinam, Eket, Esit, Eket, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ibium, Ikot Ekpene, Ibiono Ibom and Ikono.

“At the end of the enforcement exercise, a total number of 284 premises were visited. 160 of them comprising five pharmacies and 155 patent medicine shops were sealed”, Esumobi disclosed.

According to him, their offences ranged from dispensing poisons without the supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage conditions, selling of medicines above the approved list for patent medicine vendors, non-registration of premises with the PCN, among others.