Over 300 pharmacies, patent medicine shops sealed in Kogi

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 311 premises comprising 15 pharmacies and 296 Patent Medicine Shops (PMS) in Kogi State for breaching its guidelines and regulations.

Mr Stephen Esumobi, Director and Head of Enforcement Department, PCN, disclosed this at a news conference on Sunday in Lokoja.

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Esumobi noted that the PCN enforcement team had been in Kogi for some days as part of efforts to streamline the drug distribution system.

“It was observed that so many premises in Kogi still operate in breach of regulations. They operate without registration with PCN while others have failed to renew their premises licence.

“At the end of the exercise, a total of 390 premises were visited, comprising 342 PMS and 48 Pharmacies.

“A total of 311 premises were sealed, comprising 15 pharmacies and 296 patent medicines shops.

”Two compliance directives were issued while three patent medicine vendors were arrested for breaking PCN seals,” Esumobi said

He stressed that the premises were sealed for operating without registration or renewal of premises certificates, unauthorised sale of performance-enhancing drugs and medicines of abuse, and poor access control to the Poison Cupboards, among others.

He emphasised that the PCN guidelines and regulations were designed to ensure that stakeholders continued to meet the required standards of practice in their operations in line with global best practices.

He assured that the PCN would step up its enforcement activities to ensure that medicines remained safe, effective and of good quality as they moved from one level of the distribution chain to another until they got to the consumers.

”All licensed premises are required to renew their licences on or before Jan. 31 every year and it is an offence for any premises to operate without registration or renewal of their premises certificates,” he said.

Esumobi advised the public to source all drug needs from registered and currently licensed pharmacies and Over- the- Counter medicines from registered Patent Medicine shops.

PCN is the Federal Government agency charged with the responsibility of regulating the education, training and practice of pharmacy in all its aspects and ramification. (NAN)