The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed off 666 medicine shops in Kaduna State for operating illegally and violating the National Drug Distribution Guidelines.
Speaking during a press briefing in Kaduna, PCN Director of Enforcement, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi, disclosed that the enforcement operation targeted illegal drug markets and unregistered medicine outlets.
“A total of 895 premises were visited during this exercise. Out of these, 666 were sealed for various violations, including 47 pharmacies, 313 patent medicine stores, and 306 illegal medicine shops,” Esumobi stated.
He asserted that medicine shops were shut for offenses ranging from selling drugs in open markets to operating without proper registration.
“We found serious infractions, including poor documentation, inadequate storage facilities, and the sale of ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist,” he explained.
Pharm Esumobi stated that the inadequate storage facilities and other unethical operations from these vendors posed a serious threat to public health.
“The storage conditions in many of these premises were not in line with manufacturers’ recommendations, which means the medicines sold there could have degraded and become unfit for human use,” he noted.
Reaffirming PCN’s commitment to ensuring safe distribution of medicines, Pharm Esumobi said, “The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria will not tolerate the sale of medicines in unregistered locations. We will continue enforcing the National Drug Distribution Guidelines to ensure the safe and effective distribution of medicines.”
He further mentioned that shop owners willing to comply with the regulations would be assisted by the PCN to reopen their businesses.
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