Infractions: Nigeria’s Pharmacists Council seals off drug market

Web Editor | ConsumerConnect

For violating the regulations guiding handling of pharmaceutical products and sales of medicines in the country, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has shut a drug market along Douglas Road, in Owerri, Imo State capital.

The PSN also sealed off 19 pharmacies and 434 Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendors (PPMV) also known as patent medicine shops in the state.

Anthonia Aruya, the Council’s Director of Inspection and Monitoring, who disclosed this at a press conference in Owerri, said that some arrests were made during the enforcement exercise.

Aruya said: “Despite the Federal Government’s explicit policy direction and the PCN’s guidance to stakeholders on relocation of markets into regulated centres (Coordinated Wholesale Centres), a new drug market, was recently set up was discovered in this state.

“The PCN has sealed the market preparatory for evacuation.”

The council visited 557 premises that comprised 68 pharmacies as well as 489 patent medicine shops during the exercise, she stated.

According to her, 10 pharmacies and one patent medicine shop were also faulted for poor handling of controlled drugs, selling and dispensing of ethical drugs without the supervision of pharmacists.

The PSN Director of Inspection and Monitoring advised the public to always demand the Pharmacists Annual Licence to Practise and the Premises Certificate to avoid patronising quacks.

Medicines sold in unregistered outlets are not guaranteed to have efficacy, quality and safety as those sold in regulated facilities, she noted.