PCN seals 397 patent medicine shops, 42 pharmacies in A’Ibom

Ekaette Bassey

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, (PCN) has sealed 397 patent medicine shops and 42 pharmacies in Akwa Ibom for operating without registration and failure to renew premises license in the last one week.
The PCN’s registrar, Mr Elijah Mohammed, said the exercise which was carried out by the National Enforcement Team was meant to support regular and existing enforcements to ensure that standards are maintained.
Speaking through the council’s Director of Enforcement, Mr Stephen Esumobi, on Friday in Uyo, Mohammed added that the premises sealed were also dispensing products without the supervision of a pharmacist.
According to him, the patent shops were selling medicine outside the approved list coupled with poor storage and sanitary conditions, and more.
The registrar noted that the council also inspected 600 premises including 118 pharmacies and 482 patent medicine shops in its latest round of enforcement exercise in the 13 local government areas of the state.
“One of the identified weaknesses in the drug distribution chain is the proliferation of illegal medicine shops which has become worse since the lockdown necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Many of these premises still do not have appropriate storage facilities, thereby exposing medicines to harsh environmental factors like high temperature and humidity.
“Some other medicines that are photosensitive are also exposed to direct sunlight. These conditions cause degradation of medicines thus making many of them harmful.
“Furthermore, these illegal outlets do not have Pharmacists to handle ethical medicines in their premises.
“This has contributed immensely to irrational dispensing of medicines resulting in treatment failures and untoward effects on patients and other unsuspecting members of the public who patronize them,” he said.
Mohammed noted that the above reasons and more, were why the pharmacist council stepped up enforcement.
He said that the exercise was not to punish medicine dealers but to correct and help them practice according to laid down standards.
Mohammed regretted that Uyo which used to be among one of the most compliant areas in Nigeria has witnessed in increase in unsafe pharmaceutical practises.
The registrar warned that those who would break their seals would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.