As part of efforts to rid off fake drugs and substandard medicine practitioners for better pharmaceutical services delivery, the Pharmacists’ Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed off 255 premises for contravening the ethics and guiding principles of the pharmaceutical profession in Ondo state.
The Director, Inspection and Monitoring unit of Pharmacists’ Council of Nigeria, Mrs Anthonia Aruya, who disclosed this during a press conference in Akure, said the affected pharmaceutical shops were sealed for offences such as operating without registration with the council, failure to renew premises license, dispensing ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist and poor sanitary conditions, among others.
She explained that many of the offenders are operating without following due process, while many others do not have the requisite knowledge or skills to handle medicines in their premises.
She noted that some persons not permitted in law to handle controlled substances were found to stock and sell such products in disregard to the law and endangering the public.
According to her, a good number of persons do not understand the laws and guidelines in the pharmaceutical landscape, thereby misleading other stakeholders or operating in ignorance which is not tenable.
She said that the enforcement which was carried out in some villages and towns across the three senatorial districts area of the state was in fulfilment of its mandate in line with the National Drug Distribution Guidelines of the Federal Government (NDDG)
According to her, the operation was geared towards streamlining the drug distribution value chain to promote the provision of safe, effective and quality medicines distributed along with registered and licensed premises.
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She said ” a total of 339 were visited comprising of 24 pharmacies and 313 patent medicine shops. A total of 225 premises were sealed comprising of eight pharmacies and 247 patent medicine shops.
“Seven premises were issued compliance directives for various offences ranging from poor handling of controlled substances, sale and dispensing of ethical/prescription drugs without the supervision of a pharmacist, unhygienic environment, poor documentation among others, in the interest of public safety”
While emphasizing that corrective measures will continue to be employed by the council in order to provide guidance for those willing to engage in the business, saying punitive measures will also be enforced on recalcitrant illegal stores and operators.
She disclosed that there was a synergy with other sisters agencies in the fight against the menace and called on the member of the public to be mindful of the outlets they patronize.
“Licences are issued to stakeholders based on their training since medicines if not properly handled and administered can be quite injurious to the end-user.
“Any premises found selling above their scope of operation such as sale and dispensing of ethical products without the presence of superintendent pharmacists or handling of controlled medicines by non-pharmacist is operating in violation of the law.
“The public is advised to ask for the registration status of facilities where they access their medicines by requesting for the current licenses issued by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria from any pharmaceutical outlet to safeguard themselves from patronizing quacks.”
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