(Ilorin)
The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) says it has sealed 499 premises made up of 30 Pharmacists’ and 469 Patent Medicine shops in Kwara state
for various offences.
The offences 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
Speaking with newsmen after the enforcement, the Director, Enforcement of the council,
Pharm. Stephen Esumobi said one of the identified weaknesses in the drug distribution chain in the state was the proliferation of illegal medicine shops.
He noted that the development became worse since the lock down necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to him, many of the premises do not have appropriate storage facilities thereby exposing medicines to harsh environmental factors like high temperature and humidity.
He said that through such process,some other medicines that were photosensitive had been exposed to direct sunlight which caused degradation of medicines, thus making many of them harmful.
“Furthermore, these illegal outlets do not have Pharmacists to handle ethical medicines in their premises.
“This has contributed immensely to irrational dispensing of medicines resulting in treatment failures and untoward effects on patients and other unsuspecting members of the public who patronize them.
“Also, the activities of these illegal outlets tend to encourage the abuse and misuse of controlled medicines with the attendant negative social and security implications.
“In order to address this challenge, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has stepped up enforcement activities across the country and its enforcement team has visited various states of the Federation.
“Members of the public are advised to purchase their medicines from licensed Pharmacies and simple household remedies from licensed patient and Propriety Medicines vendor shops.
” Those intending to start pharmaceutical businesses should get in touch with the PCN head office located at Plot 7/9, Idu Industrial Layout, Abuja or any of the PCN State and Zonal Offices for proper guidance,” he said.
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