The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria PCN has threatened to shut down all medicines shops operating in open drug markets across the country.
The Registrar of the Council, Pharmacist Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed stated during Media parley held in Kano.
He said the Federal Ministry of Health consulted widely with stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector and Medicine Dealers in Open Drug Markets nationwide and have resolved that they (Medicine Dealers) will all move to Coordinated Wholesale Center on or before 31st December,2018.
Babashehu Ahmed noted that the deadline was later extended to 31st December,2019 with the directives that all open drug markets shall cease to operate with effect from 1st January, 2020.
Pharmacist Ibrahim Babashehu explained that PCN has given two weeks ultimatum to Medicine Dealers in Sabongari Market of Kano State to vacate, stressing that soon the enforcement will be effective.
Before this, the PCN had further meetings with the leaders of the Medicine Dealers in Sabongari Market on January 9 and 10,2019 during which they gave assurances of their commitment to the speedy transition from the open drug market to the CWC”.
“They also enumerated some challenges that were at the time militating against the completion of the project.*
The president maintained that Kano State Government was the first in the country to open Coordinated Wholesale Center at Dangwauro.
PCN noted that Drug Markets in the country which includes Sabongari Market in Kano State, Idumota in Lagos State and also Abia and Anambra States respectively have been Side axe.
Abdullahi jalaluddeen/Kano