By Aisha Ahmed
Pharmacist Stephen Esumobi, Director of Enforcement, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), has said that the council has sealed 355 pharmacies and patent medicine shops in Jigawa State on Thursday.
Speaking with newsmen in Dutse on Thursday evening after the operation in many local councils, he said the places were shut down for various offenses.
He explained that it was observed that many premises in Jigawa were operating illegally without registering with the council.
According to him, “many of the patent medicine stores have stocked large quantities of medicines outside approved drug lists beyond their scope.
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“Storage conditions in most premises were found to be inadequate, thus exposing the products to degradation, which will affect public health.” He explained.
He added that most of the drugs found in the patent shops may no longer be fit for human consumption.
The director further revealed that illegal medicine dealers were also found selling substances of abuse to the public, thus aggravating social and security concerns from the illicit use of drugs.
The council, he said, had visited Hadejia, Birnin Kudu, Gwaram, Ringim, Taura, Birniwa, Guri, Malam Madori, Jahun, Kiyawa, Garki, and Gumel.
The operation was also extended to Dutse, Kazaure, Roni, Gagarawa, Buji, Kafin Hausa, Kaugama, and Auyo local government areas, respectively.
The places were sealed for offenses ranging from the unauthorized sale of substances of abuse to wholesale premises engaging in retail and the sale of medicines without documentation.
Some were also sealed for operating without registration with the council, having poor storage facilities, and stocking ethical products without the supervision of a competent pharmacist.
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In addition, the director noted that two were arrested for breaking the council’s seal and the second for obstructing the inspectors.
The Registrar of the PCN, according to Esumobi, is repositioning the Council to strengthen its surveillance and enforcement activities nationwide.
This, he said, is aimed at improving the quality of pharmaceutical services on premises across the states of the Federation.
The director further warned drug sellers to ensure proper registration and ethical conduct to avoid crossing the paths of the law.
He said that the enforcement was backed by the Pharmaceutical Premises, Location, Inspection, Structure, Monitoring, and Enforcement Regulations 2022.