Pharmacists in the country have advocated the rational distribution and dispensing of medicines that are safe, effective and of good quality to the public.
Director, Inspection and Monitoring of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Mrs. Anthonia Aruya, in a statement, stressed that pharmaceutical facilities were expected to fulfil certain conditions, in line with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria’s guidelines before registration.
“First, the facility is expected to apply for location approval because not every location is suitable for pharmaceutical business. When the location is approved, the premises will put the necessary structures in place for inspection.
“The inspection of the facility is carried out to ensure that the right storage environment is maintained to preserve the integrity of the medicines.
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“Also, pharmacies are expected to have pharmacists to supervise the dispensing of ethical products to members of the public,” Aruya noted. Reiterating that the PCN had been actively fulfilling its mandate by carrying out enforcement activities across states, she said the National Assembly had empowered the council to shut down all illegal pharmaceutical outlets nationwide.
“The Act of the National Assembly has given the PCN added impetus to intensify efforts at sanitising the drug distribution chain; she said, adding, “The Minister of Health recently directed the PCN to ensure that all warehouses and locations where drugs are stored, sold, distributed or dispensed are registered with the PCN.”
Aruya lamented that in Zamfara State, many pharmaceutical premises commenced operations without fulfilling the minimum requirements for registration, while other outlets failed to renew their licences to operate.
“Some of these premises stored products in places where the quality, safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical products cannot be guaranteed, thus exposing the public to serious danger.
“Others did not have the requisite knowledge or skills to handle the ethical drugs in their facilities. “The enforcement exercise in Zamfara is part of efforts by the PCN to reverse this ugly trend and improve on the quality of pharmaceutical services delivery to the good people of Zamfara State,” she stressed.
She noted that the PCN Enforcement Team was in Zamfara State for about a week, during which it visited various parts of the state including Gusau, Tsafe, Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi, Gummi, Talata Mafara, Birnin Magaji, Bukkuyum, Anka, Bakura, Maradun, Bungudu and Maru.
By: Sodiq Oyeleke
The Punch News
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