PCN seals off 287 illegal pharmacies and medicine shops

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has wielded its big stick, sealing off 287 premises made up of 27 illegal pharmacies and 260 patent medicine stores for various offences.

The deputy Director Enforcement, PCN, Pharm Stephen Esumobi, made the disclosure at a press conference in Lokoja, yesterday, after an enforcement exercise in Kogi State.

The premises were sealed for operating without registration with PCN, failure to renew premises licence, dispensing ethical products without pharmacist’s supervision, poor storage and sanitary conditions, among others.

According to him, the PCN team observed that in Kogi State, many pharmaceutical premises commenced operations without fulfilling minimum requirements for registration, while others failed to renew their licenses.

“Some of the owners of these premises lack requisite knowledge to handle products in their shops. In so many cases, drugs are exposed to conditions that alter their pharmacological and pharmacokinetic profiles, thus making them unsuitable for human consumption,” he said.

Unfortunately, the products are sold to unsuspecting public, thus endangering their lives. Esumobi advised the public to always purchase their medicines from licensed pharmacies and simple household remedies from licensed patent and propriety medicines shops.

“PCN cannot guarantee that drugs sold in unregistered outlets are of the same integrity, as specified by manufacturers, since they have not submitted to regulation that ensures maintenance of appropriate standards for handling such products,” he said.