The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed a total of 242 pharmacies and patent medicine shops in Kwara State for offences ranging from dispensing drugs without supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage conditions, non-renewal of mandatory certificates, among others.

 

The Head of Enforcement of the council. Mr. Stephen Esumobi, who disclosed this in Ilorin over the weekend after inspection tours of patent medicine stores and pharmacies premises across the 16 local government councils in the state, said that, the gesture was to ensure the members of the public have safe drugs to purchase.

 

He decried the attitude of many patent medicine shops in the state for commencing operations without following laid down guidelines.

 

Esumobi, said that, 14 pharmacies and 228 patent medicine shops were among 242 premises sealed by the council.

 

 

Esumobi added that many others failed to meet minimum requirement for storage and personnel, "thus exposing members of the public to the dangers of consuming medicines whose quality, safety and efficacy cannot be guaranteed".

 

He stressed, "Anyone wishing to start a pharmacy shop is required to apply for location approval. This is because not every location is suitable for the sale of medicines. When the location is approved, the premises apply for facility inspection to ensure that the structure and personnel are adequate. But we discovered that many premises operate without following laid down guidelines in Kwara state".

 

Esumobi noted further that,"the PCN is using this medium to sensitise all stakeholders to follow the laws that regulate the sale of medicines in Nigeria as the PCN will not tolerate the sale of medicines without submission to regulatory control.

 

"Furthermore, members of the public who wish to operate patent medicine stores or pharmacies are advised to visit the PCN state or zonal offices for proper guidance".

 

Mr. Esumobi therefore urged the members of the National Association of ‎Patent and Proprietary Medicine to shun all forms of attitude capable of affecting the socio well being of the populace by following all laid down laws before establishing their stores.

 

By Hammed Shittu

This Day