Story Summary:
- Enforcement Action: The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has closed 666 unregistered medicine shops across Kaduna State for violating National Drug Distribution Guidelines.
- Inspection Details: The operation targeted 895 premises, including 47 pharmacies, 313 patent medicine shops, and 306 illegal outlets, resulting in the issuance of nine compliance directives.
- Public Health Warning: The PCN highlighted the risks of substandard storage in unregistered shops, which could lead to the degradation of medicines and pose serious health hazards.
In a decisive move against non-compliance with National Drug Distribution Guidelines, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has shut down 666 unregistered medicine shops across Kaduna State.
The enforcement operation, which began earlier this week, targeted open drug markets and various sites where medicines were sold without proper registration and oversight.
Speaking to reporters in Kaduna on Thursday, PCN Director of Enforcement, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi, stated that the initiative was designed to ensure the safe and effective distribution of medicines, protect public health, and prevent the sale of harmful substances within the state.
Esumobi detailed that the crackdown involved inspecting 895 premises, which included 47 pharmacies, 313 patent medicine shops, and 306 illegal medicine shops. During the operation, nine compliance directives were issued to the owners of establishments found to be operating unlawfully.
He further elaborated that the enforcement exercise, which began earlier this week, resulted in the inspection of 895 premises: 75 pharmacies, 514 patent medicine shops, and 306 illegal premises. Of these, 666 were sealed, comprising 47 pharmacies, 313 patent medicine shops, and 306 illegal medicine shops.
Esumobi emphasised that the PCN would not tolerate the sale of medicines in open drug markets and other unregistered locations. He assured that the council would persist in enforcing the National Drug Distribution Guidelines to safeguard public health and prevent the sale of harmful substances.
He warned that unregistered medicine shops operating in open markets across Kaduna State posed significant risks to public health due to substandard storage conditions, which could lead to the degradation of medicines. This degradation could render the medicines unfit for human consumption.
Esumobi concluded by warning that the PCN would take further action against non-compliant medicine dealers and reiterated the council’s commitment to supporting those who wished to comply with the regulations.
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