Pharmacists Council of Nigeria(PCN) has wielded the big stick on some pharmaceutical facilities which it sealed in Edo State on account of infractions in the operation of the facilities.
The facilities so affected included 340 premises comprising 84 pharmacies and 256 Patent Medicine Vendors Shops situated in different parts of the state.
This much was revealed by the Registrar of the council, Pharm. Elijah Mohammed in a Press Briefing in Benin City through the Director of Enforcement, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi.
Reasons that the council gave for taking its action include owners of many of the premises were engaged in the sale of medicines with disregard to laid down guidelines; patent medicine vendors are either unregistered or registered but operating far beyond their approved scope and many of them sell medicines beyond their approved drug list.
Going further, Pharm. Mohammed said: “since they do not have the requisite knowledge to handle ethical medicines and substances of abuse the health of members of the public who patronise them is at risk.”
Pharm. Mohammed asserted that, “this is the first phase of activities of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria put in place to streamline the drug distribution system and improve the level of pharmaceutical services delivery to the good people of Edo State.
“Further action will follow in due course since the PCN is committed to ensuring the full implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines.”
He advised the public “to source their medicines from registered and currently licensed pharmacies and over-the-counter medicines from registered Proprietary Medicines Vendors shops as drug sold in unregistered outlets cannot be guaranteed to be genuine due to the effect of poor handling and exposure to environmental factors that degrade them.”
