Posted on: Wed 15-06-2022

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 514 pharmacies in Adamawa State for failing to comply with regulations guiding the trade.

Addressing journalists, yesterday, in Yola, the Director/Head of Enforcement Department, Stephen Esumobi, said PCN’s investigations revealed that many of the wholesalers and distributors in the state do not operate with resident pharmacists.

He said: “Some that claim to have one were found to have forwarded documents of pharmacists, who are either no longer in their employment or engaged as public servants outside Adamawa.

“These premises have large quantities of potent medicines with narrow margin of safety, and it will endanger public health if these premises are allowed to continue operating without the supervision of pharmacists.”

Esumobi insisted that the sealed premises would remain sealed until the affected pharmacies prove that they employed pharmacists resident in Adamawa.

According to him, it is an offence to employ a pharmacist resident in another state, instead of a full-time superintendent pharmacist that will be held accountable for all pharmaceutical activities in their establishments.

The director advised members of the public to avoid buying drugs in pharmacies that did not display their licence of operations.

Out of 21 local councils in the state, PCN visited 16, he noted, adding that his team would continue with the exercise until the operators fully comply with the regulations of PCN for public safety.

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