By Okon Bassey
The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 439 drug shops in Akwa IbomState for various offences including dispensing unethical products, poor storage and sanitary conditions.
The Registrar of PCN, Pharm. Elijah Mohammed who disclosed this
at a press briefing held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital weekend; said a total of 42 Pharmacies and 397 Patent Medicine Shops were affected in the exercise.
Also, he pointed out that some of the pharmacies and patent medicine
shops in the state operate without registration with the PCN, failed to renew premises license, and sold medicines outside the approved list.
Mohammed who was represented by the Director Enforcement of
the PCN, Stephen Esumobi made known that the enforcement exercise took place in 13 out of 31 local government areas in the state.
However, he indicated that nine Pharmacies and Patent Medicine Shops were issued compliance directives at the end of a week enforcement exercise in the state. He stressed that proliferation of illegal medicine shops had became worse since the lock down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “In order to address this challenge, the PCN has stepped up enforcement activities across the country and its enforcement team has visited various states of the Federation.
“The aim of the enforcement exercise is to ensure that all premises where medicines are sold are registered, having fulfilled condition with respect to location, storage facilities, environment, documentation and personnel.
“One of the identified weaknesses in the drug distribution chain
is the proliferation of illegal medicine shops which has become worse since the lock down necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic.” he stated.
