The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has shut down 666 medicine stores in open drug markets and other locations in Kaduna State.
The Director of Enforcement of the PCN, Stephen Esumobi, disclosed this on Thursday in Kaduna , saying the PCN carried out the enforcement in Zaria LGA of the state.
At the end of the enforcement which began early in the week, Esumobi said 895 premises were visited. When the operation started at the beginning of the week, adding that “We visited 75 pharmacies, 514 patent medicine shops, 306 other premises.
“The premises sealed included 47 pharmacies, 313 patent medicine shops and 306 illegal
medicine shops,” he said.
He said the presmises were sealed for selling medicines in the open drug market, operating without registration with PCN, poor documentation, poor storage facilities, stocking of ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist.
Esumobi discovered wholesalers engaging in retail activities, non-
pharmacists having access to poison cupboards, patent medicine shops engaging in clinical practice and training apprentices among
others.
“One major obstacle militating against the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines in Nigeria is the sale of medicines in open drug markets.
“Many medicine shops in the open drug markets and some other locations across the Kaduna state are not registered by the PCN and are operating illegally.
“The storage conditions for medicines in these premises are poor as medicines are stored at temperature and humidity conditions that are at variance with manufacturers
recommendations.
“The implication of this is that most of the medicines sold in these locations may no longer be fit for human consumption due to degradation of the active ingredients.
“Some of the products of degradation of these medicines are harmful thus posing a threat to public health.”
