The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed up 531 illegal pharmacies and patent medicines premises in the Federal Capital Territory, for various offences.
Meanwhile, the council has concluded plans to introduce an online platform designed to monitor drugs and enhance the regulation of pharmacy practices in the country.
PCN’s Director of Enforcement, Pharm Stephen Esumobi, who disclosed this on Friday in Abuja, said that the illegal medicine shops were sealed for offences ranging from operating without registration with the council.
Esumobi noted that they have seen cases where licensed patent medicine shops administer drugs with narrow margins of safety through the intravenous route in unhygienic environments.
He noted that one of the core mandates of the PCN is ensuring rational distribution and dispensing of medicines that are safe, effective and of good quality at all levels of the health care delivery system in Nigeria adding that the council in its drive to maintain a strong and effective presence across the states of the Federation established state and zonal offices.
Esumobi said: “The PCN Zonal office, PIC and PPMVLC in the FCT have been working assiduously to ensure that owners of Patent Medicine Shops and Pharmacies operate in line with the law. Orientation and continuing education programmes have been organised for owners of Patent Medicine shops in FCT on a regular basis.
READ ALSO:PCN seals 305 pharmacies, medicine shops
The Director stated that the PCN Zonal office in the FCT also carries out inspection and monitoring activities on a regular basis to ensure that the operations of all medicine outlets are in tandem with approved guidelines. In addition, the national enforcement team carries out activities in the states and the FCT to further strengthen the activities of the committees and state/Zonal offices.
According to him, the National Enforcement team of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria carried out weeklong enforcement activities within the FCT starting on June 24 2024 and at the end of the exercise 908 premises were sealed.
Esumobi explained that this is made up of 235 pharmacies, 336 patent medicine shops and 337 illegal premises.
“A total of 531 premises were sealed. The premises sealed include 90 pharmacies, 144 patent medicine shops and 297 illegal medicine shops.”
He added, “Non-renewal of premises certificates, stocking and sale of medicines above the approved medicine list for Patent Medicine Vendors, wholesalers carrying out retail activities, Patent Medicine Shops engaging in Clinical Practice, Poor documentation, Poor storage facilities, Stocking of Ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist.
“Superintendent pharmacists not residing in the FCT to properly supervise pharmaceutical activities within the premises, Non-Pharmacists having access to Poison Cupboard and in some cases dispensing substances of abuse in the absence of the pharmacist among others. Four (4) compliance directives were issued.”
