The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has shut down 501 medicine shops in Plateau State for offenses ranging from the sale of medicines in open drug markets to operating without registration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.
Other offenses include: non-renewal of big premises certificates; non-pharmacists having access to and dispensing controlled medicines; stocking and sales of medicines above the approved medicine list for patent medicine vendors; engaging in clinical practice; poor documentation; poor storage facilities; stocking without the supervision of a pharmacist, among others.
The Director of Enforcement of the Council, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi, disclosed at a press conference in Jos, Plateau State, that the enforcement team visited premises within the state capital and environs, adding that within three days of its operations, a total of 701 premises were visited.
According to him, the places visited were made up of 167 pharmacies, 224 patent medicine shops, and 310 illegal premises, adding that an area called Old Bukuru Park within Jos metropolis has the highest concentration of illegal medicine shops.
ALSO READ: PIA has transformed investment climate in oil, gas sector — Expert
He narrated that the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria is currently strengthening its state and zonal offices to properly position them to effectively carry out its regulatory mandate with the aim of ensuring that Nigerians access medicines that are safe, effective, and of good quality at all times and in all locations.
“One of the major factors affecting the quality of medicines in the medicine supply chain in Plateau State and other parts of Nigeria is the sale of medicines in open drug markets and other unregistered locations.
“The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria has communicated severally with the relevant stakeholders in the state, including the medicine dealers in the emerging open drug market, on the need to relocate to registered locations as their activities are in total violation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines and the federal government directive that medicines should no longer be sold in the open drug market in Nigeria.”
Pharm. Esumobi equally pointed out that the Council was in Plateau State in 2022 and several premises were sealed while compliance directives were issued to others, adding that the PCN tried all within its power to assist premises willing to comply with the laws and regulations as they affected the distribution of medicines.
He said, “Many of these premises took steps to comply; however, information available through our surveillance team indicates that some premises are yet to take steps to comply, while new illegal outlets are emerging in several locations across Jos metropolis. This necessitated this visit.”
