She said (PCN), a federal government parastatal charged with the responsibility of regulating the education, training and practice of pharmacy in all its aspects and ramifications as established by decree 91 of 1992, now pharmacist council of Nigeria Act Cap P17, LFN, 2004, had during it outing which she said was the 35th, outing of the council covering about 30 State, visited 539 medical premises in Taraba where 358 premises were sealed for various offences ranging from improper handling of controlled substances and unhygienic environment, poor documentation and dispensing of ethical prescription drugs without the presence of a pharmacists.
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According to Aruya, the exercise which is geared toward streamlining the drug distribution system in Taraba State was the first phase.
Aruya stated that further action will follow in due course since the PCN was committed to the provision of good pharmaceutical services for Nigerians.
While expressing worry over what she said was an observation from the field during the outing in Taraba, the (PCN) inspection and monitoring director said the field observation reviewed that many people who are into the sale of medicines have no due recognition of laid down guidelines for setting up such facilities.
She said some do not have the requisite knowledge or skills to handle medicine in their premises or, are operating beyond their approved scope.
“Some people that were not permitted by law to handle controlled substances were found to stock and sell such products in disregard to the law and further endangered the public.”
“A good number of this people did not understand the laws and guidelines in the pharmaceutical landscape thereby misleading other stakeholders or operating in ignorance that is not taxable,” She lamented.
She on behalf of the (PCN), advised the public to source it drug needs from registered pharmacy outlets and over the counter medicine, (OTCs) from registered (PPMV) shops as drugs sold in unregistered outlets cannot be guaranteed to be genuine.
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