*The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria seals off 486 illegal medicine premises spread across nine Local Government Areas, in Niger State, over several regulatory illegalities, including operating without licences, engaging unqualified personnel to unauthorised sale of controlled drugs to unwary consumers

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

For various regulatory infractions, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has said its enforcement officers shut 486 illegal pharmacies and patent medicine premises in nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Niger State.

绿帽献妻 reports the PCN sealed off the affected pharmaceutical stores over offences ranging from operating without licences, engaging unqualified personnel to unauthorised sale of controlled drugs to unwary consumers.

Suleiman Ciroma, Head of Enforcement at PCN Headquarters, disclosed this development to reporters at the North Central Zonal Office, in Minna, Niger State capital, after the Council鈥檚 recent week-long enforcement exercise.

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Ciroma explained the affected medicine premises included 69 pharmacies, 127 patent medicine shops, and 290 unlicensed outlets.

As regards the objective of the operation, the Council said nationwide enforcement exercise was designed to sanitise the pharmaceutical sector of the economy, protect public health, and reduce the prevalence of substandard and falsified medical products in the country.

He equally revealed that the PCN Enforcement Team arrested an individual, and that the suspect would be prosecuted for obstructing the Council鈥檚 inspectors in the course of their duties.

The Head of Enforcement stated: 鈥淚n total, 672 premises comprising 136 pharmacies and 536 patent medicine stores were inspected across nine Local Government Areas鈥擜gaie, Bida, Tafa, Chanchaga, Lapai, Paikoro, Bosso, Suleja, and Gurara.鈥�

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The enforcement exercise, Ciroma said, was strategically focused on evaluating premises, personnel, and pharmaceutical practices to ensure compliance with professional ethics and minimum standards that guarantee safe and quality service delivery to consumers.

The PCN further noted the enforcement team discovered several breaches, including the operation of unlicensed facilities, non-compliance with regulatory guidelines, unauthorised clinical practices, sales of controlled medicines, and illegal training of apprentices.

Ciroma emphasied that licensed pharmacies and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) could be identified by the visible display of their valid licences.

The Council, therefore, urged the public to always verify this as a safeguard against quackery in the pharmaceutical industry.

Meanwhile, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria has applauded the Niger State residents for their cooperation during the operation/

Ciroma also assured that the PCN would sustain ongoing efforts at removing any unqualified pharmaceutical practitioners, and illegal premises across Nigeria.

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