PCN Seals 666 Medicine Shops in Kaduna Over Unsafe Drug Practices

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 666 pharmacies in Kaduna state for allegedly violating national guidelines on illegal operations and distribution of medicines.
PCN Head of Enforcement, Stephen Esumobi, disclosed this on Thursday at a press conference following enforcement operations that began in the state early this week.
The PCN leader said: “At the end of the enforcement exercise which began early this week, a total of eight hundred and ninety-five (895) premises were visited. This is made up of seventy-five (75) pharmacies, five hundred and fourteen (514) patent medicine shops, and three hundred and six (306) illegal premises.
“A total of six hundred and sixty-six (666) premises were sealed. The premises sealed include forty-seven (47) pharmacies, three hundred and thirteen (313) patent medicine shops, and three hundred and six (306) illegal medicine shops,” he said.
Esumobi explained that the shops were closed for allegedly selling medicines in the open medicine market, operating without registration with the Council, insufficient documentation, inadequate storage facilities, and storing ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist.
According to him, the activities of the now-closed shops are threatening public health due to the poor storage conditions of medicines in the shops.
He further explained that “The implication of this is that most of the medicines sold in these locations may no longer be fit for human consumption due to degradation of the active ingredients.”
“The PCN will not tolerate the sale of medicines in open drug markets and other 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.
Esumobi also assured that the PCN would support sealed shop owners who were willing to comply with the regulations, but warned that action would be taken against erring drug dealers.