About five hundred and twenty patent medicine shops and pharmacies have been sealed by Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) in seven local government areas of Kwara state.
Addressing Newsmen in Ilorin, the Director and Head of enforcement department of the council , Mr. Stephen Esumobi, said that the premises sealed comprised of 39 pharmacies and 481 patent medicine shops.
He said that the development was not peculiar to Kwara state, adding that unregistered pharmacies and patent medicine shops are all over the country, especially in rural areas.
Mr Esumobi explained that the council’s enforcement teams have been on the field in Kwara state throughout the week visiting premises in llorin West, llorin East, llorin South, Asa, Moro, Oyun and Ifelodun.
He noted that observations from the field in the state revealed that while there is commendable level of compliance by some stakeholders, others have chosen to operate with total disregard for the PCN guidelines.
Esumobi said so many premises are not registered with the PCN while a large number of those registered do not bother to renew their licences.
He maintained that most of the patent medicine vendors engaged in activities far beyond their scope and also stock products outside their approved drug list including ethical medicines and substances of abuse.
Esumobi advised members of the public to source all drug needs from registered and currently licensed
pharmacies.
COV/ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU
