The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 666 medicine stores in Kaduna State for allegedly operating illegally and violating national drug distribution guidelines.
This follows an enforcement exercise that began earlier in the week, where a total of 895 premises were visited.
According to the PCN director of enforcement, Stephen Esumobi, “The premises sealed include 47 pharmacies, 313 patent medicine shops, and 306 illegal medicine shops.
These shops were shut down for selling medicines in open drug markets, operating without registration, poor documentation, poor storage facilities, and stocking ethical products without a pharmacist’s supervision.”
Esumobi emphasized that the activities of these shops pose a significant threat to public health due to poor storage conditions, which can lead to the degradation of active ingredients in medicines.
“The PCN will not tolerate the sale of medicines in open drug markets and unregistered locations. We will continue to enforce the National Drug Distribution Guidelines to protect public health and prevent the sale of harmful substances,” he assured.
However, Esumobi also offered assistance to owners of sealed shops who are willing to comply with regulations, warning that action will be taken against erring medicine dealers.
The PCN’s enforcement exercise aims to ensure that medicine stores operate within the bounds of the law and prioritize public health and safety.
