The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has disclosed that 218 patent medicines and illegal outlets were sealed for poor handling of controlled substances and various offences in Cross River State.

 

The council also disclosed that of 276 premises visited, comprising 19 pharmacies in Calabar and Akamkpa local government area of the state, seven arrests were made. The Director, Inspector and Monitoring, Anthonia Aruya made the disclosure yesterday in Calabar at the press conference organised by the council. She said the essence of the exercise was geared towards streamlining the drug Distribution Guideline Value Chain to promote the provision of safe, effective and quality medicine distribution in the country, adding that they aim at sanitizing the system for better pharmaceutical services delivery to the good people of the state and the nation.

 

Aruya explained that registered premises are inspected in line with principles of good pharmacy practice (GPP) and are made to meet up with the minimum acceptable standards before they are licensed to practice. She said they would not relent in carrying out their responsibilities until the country is rid of illegal activities in the pharmaceutical sector.

 

Aruya called on the general public to ask for the registration status of facilities where they buy medicines by requesting for their current license to safeguard them from patronising quacks.