Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria PCN has cracked down on illegal drug markets in Gombe state by sealing a total of seven hundred and fifty-one pharmacies and medicine shops.
The Director Enforcement, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, Mr. Stephen Esumobifsi , made this known while briefing news men in Gombe.
According to him the affected pharmacies and medicine shops were sealed for offences ranging from sale of medicines in the open drug market, operating without registration with Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and poor documentation.
Other offences include poor storage facilities, stocking of Ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist among others.
Mr. Stephen Esumobifsi lamented that medicine shops in Gombe, open drug market and some other locations across the state were not registered by the PCN and were operating illegally.
He further said that the storage conditions for medicines in those premises were poor because they were stored at temperature that were at variance with manufacturers recommendations.
He expressed concern that medicine sold at those locations may no longer be safe for human consumption due to the degradation of the active ingredients thereby posing a threat to public health.
Mr. Stephen Esumobifsi said the PCN crack down on illegal drug market wasn’t meant to put anybody out of business but to sanitised the market of unwholesome ethical practices.
He said the Council would continue to collaborate with stakeholders with the view to enforcing laws guiding the operation of pharmacies and medicine shops in the state.
COV/HUDU
