Pharmacy Council Seals 381 Medicine Shops In A’Ibom

UYO

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), South South Zone,has sealed 381 medicine shops in Akwa Ibom for various offences.

Addressing a press conference in Uyo on Friday the director, Head of Enforcement Department, PCN, Stephen Esumobi, said the affected shops were closed during the current drive by the council to streamline drug distribution system in the country.

Esumobi listed offences of dealers whose shops were sealed to include lack of certifications, non display of certificates in business premises, poor environment of shop locations, availability of qualified personnel, drug storage facilities and general pharmaceutical practices.

Other offences include ‘non renewal of premises certificates, unauthorized sales of medicine/abuse, poor access control to the poison cupboards, poor storage facilities and temperature control as well sticking and sale of prescription and other ethical products by patent medicine vendors.

”In enforcing the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria laws, the primary areas of focus of our enforcement team are premises, personnel and practice.  It is an offence for any stakeholder to operate a pharmaceutical business in a location that had not been inspected and approved by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria. The personnel in charge of a pharmaceutical premises must have knowledge that is appropriate for the scope of pharmaceutical activity,” he said.

Esumobi said the PCN Enforcement Team having stayed in the state for one week visited Uyo, Abak, Itu , Eket , IbesikpoAsutan Ikot Ekpene and Oron local government areas of AkwaIbom state .

He explained that a total of 727 premises were visited including parent medicine shops and pharmacies.

” At the end of the exercise, a total of 727 premises were visited. This comprises of 559 patent medicine shops,168pharmacies,” he shared

Esumobi pointed out the worst cases of non compliance were discovered in Eket and Oron axis of the State, adding that the purpose of the inspection was not to put medicine vendors out of business but to ensure compliance with extant laws and standard practice.