PCN Seals 724 Pharmacies, Medicine Stores Over Regulatory Violations
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 724 pharmacies, patent medicine stores and illegal drug outlets across Kwara State for various regulatory infractions.
The Registrar of the Council, Ibrahim Ahmed, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Ilorin on the outcome of a four-day enforcement exercise conducted across 10 local government areas of the state.
Represented by Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, Ahmed said the operation covered Ilorin South, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Asa, Offa, Ifelodun, Oyun, Moro, Irepodun and Edu local government areas.
According to him, a total of 1,238 premises were inspected during the exercise, comprising 167 pharmacies, 957 patent and proprietary medicine vendor (PPMV) shops and 114 illegal outlets.
“Consequently, 724 premises were sealed, including 68 pharmacies, 542 patent medicine stores and 114 illegal outlets. In addition, 11 compliance directives were issued,” he said.
Ahmed noted that about nine per cent of the premises inspected were operating illegally, while illegal outlets accounted for 15.7 per cent of all facilities sealed during the exercise.
He added that 59.2 per cent of licensed pharmacies inspected complied fully with regulatory standards, compared to 43 per cent of patent medicine stores.
“As required by law, 100 per cent of the illegal premises identified during the exercise were sealed,” he stated.
The registrar identified the major violations to include operating without a valid PCN licence, poor drug storage conditions, unauthorised handling of controlled medicines, training of apprentices in medicine stores and cooking within drug-selling premises.
According to him, such practices pose serious threats to public health and national security, particularly when controlled medicines are diverted into criminal networks.
“These practices endanger public health and pose risks to national security when controlled drugs are diverted to criminal networks,” he warned.
Ahmed said the outcome of the exercise indicated improved regulatory compliance in the state but stressed that the Council would continue to enforce existing regulations without compromise.
He urged members of the public to purchase medicines only from premises duly licensed by the PCN, warning that patronising unregistered outlets could result in treatment failure, antimicrobial resistance and avoidable deaths.
He explained that licensed premises can be easily identified through valid PCN licences displayed prominently within their facilities.
Reaffirming the Council’s commitment to supporting Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Ahmed said access to safe, effective, quality-assured and affordable medicines remains critical to achieving the Federal Government’s healthcare objectives.
“Universal Health Coverage is unattainable without access to safe, effective, quality-assured and affordable medicines. When medicines are dispensed by untrained persons or stored under unsuitable conditions, treatment failures, antimicrobial resistance and avoidable deaths become inevitable,” he added.
Source: Punch Newspapers