By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
A total of 381 pharmaceutical and patent shops in Akwa Ibom State have been sealed off by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Enforcement Team over non-conformity to the regulatory rules.
A break down shows 52 pharmaceutical and 329 patent medicine stores.
The Director and Head of Enforcement Department, Pharm Stephen Esumobi, who disclosed this to newsmen in Uyo, the state capital, listed the offences to include operating without registration or renewal of premises certificates, unauthorized sales of medicines and abuse as well as poor access control to the poison cupboard and other offences by the patent medicine vendors, among others.
He said that the enforcement team in continuation of the current drive by the council to streamline the drug distribution system, visited 727 premises comprising 559 patent medicine shops and 168 pharmacies.
Esumobi said “the PCN enforcement team has been in Akwa Ibom State since the beginning of the week in continuation of the current drive by the council to streamline the drug distribution system in the country.
“The team visited the following local government areas; Uyo and its environs, Ikono, Abak, Itu, Eket, Ibesikpo/Asutan, Ikot Ekpene and Oron.
At the end of the exercise, a total of 727 premises were visited. This comprised 559 patents medicine shops and 168 pharmacies.
“A total of 381 premises were sealed, comprising of 52 pharmacies and 329 patent medicine stores. A total of 16 compliance directives were issued.” He said.
“All registered premises are expected to display their current premises certificates or evidence of registration conspicuously within the premises to enable members of the public to know the status of premises where they buy their medicine.
“Premises certificates shall be renewed on or before 31st January every year and it is an offence for any premises to operate without registration or renewal of their premises certificates.
“In enforcing the PCN laws, the primary areas of focus of the PCN enforcement team are premises, personnel, and practice. It is an offence for any stakeholder to operate a pharmaceutical business in a location that has not been approved by PCN,” he added.
Esumobi, however, commended the state ministry of health, DSS, NSCDC, the press, and the Nigerian Police Force for their collaboration with PCN to sensitize the public.
