Drugs sold in unregistered outlets cannot be guaranteed to be genuine – PCN warns

The leadership of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has again warned pharmacists and patent medicine vendors who take pleasure in patronizing unregistered drug outlets to desist as such outlets cannot be guaranteed to be genuine.

The council made the call on Friday in Jalingo, Taraba state, saying such unwholesome practices, have compelled them to seal no fewer than 378 pharmaceutical stores and patent medicine vendors in the state.

Briefing journalists in Jalingo, the PCN team who said they have been in the state for the past one week on enforcement, revealed that 34 pharmacies and 344 patent medicine vendor shops were sealed at the end of their operations.

The Council’s Director of Enforcement, Stephen Esumobi, said the action was aimed at ensuring the distribution of safe and quality medicines to the consumers.

Citing the responsibilities of the council, including regulating the education, training and practice of pharmacy in all its aspects and ramifications, Esumobi said the council would not rest until compliance is strictly adhered to.

He said the enforcement team, through its visit to various local government councils of the state, observed that so many medicine stores and pharmacies are not registered.

Esumobi said a large number of “those registered” do not bother to renew their license” adding that “most of the patent medicine vendors are engaged in activities far beyond their scope and also stock products outside their approved drug list including ethical medicines and substances of abuse. ”

Aside the sealed shops, 24 compliance directives were issued for various offences, such as poor sanitary conditions, poor documentation and non-display of premises and pharmacists’ annual licenses, he explained.

Stressing the need for vendors to source all drugs from registered pharmaceutical outlets, the council said it would not relent in handing out sanctions pending when those who stockpile unregistered drugs are flushed out of the markets.

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