Four pharmacists have had their licenses revoked and their names removed from the registry of the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria over their involvement in unethical practices.

 

The Registrar of the council, Pharmacist Elijah Mohammed, who was speaking at a three-day workshop organised by the PCN to train its inspectors in Abuja, said the four pharmacists lost their licences two weeks ago.

 

According to him, the council intends to go after those selling fake and adulterated drugs adding that pharmacists must be licensed to be able to sell drugs, which many have taken for granted.

 

 He said “Two weeks ago four pharmacists’ names were struck off the register. They can no longer practice here in Nigeria. Some were operating illegal clinics, while others were using other people’s licences to register their pharmacies. It’s not going to be business as usual.

 

 

“We are going all out and we know we will conquer. War against indiscipline, war against fake drugs, war against illegal premises for the good of the Nigerian people,” Mohammed said.

 

Mohammed added that to keep standards, pharmaceutical inspectors need to be trained regularly.

 

His said: “We are re-engineering the process of pharmaceutical inspectorate activities in the nation and that is the new focus and mindset for a better output. The process they have been doing before, we are re-modifying it, so we will be able to reach out to all the nooks and crannies of this nation to ensure that pharmaceutical services are properly done.

 

Over 250 pharmaceutical inspectors participated in the event

 

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Mr Linus Awute, called on pharmacists to rid the country of fake and unwholesome drugs.

 

The permanent secretary, who was represented by the Director of  Traditional Medicine in the Ministry, Pharmacist Moshood Lawal, said, “The responsibility of the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria as a regulatory authority amongst others is to ensure that all premises where drugs are manufactured and displayed for sale are licensed and subject to its control.”

 

by Victoria Onehi

Daily Trust