The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has revealed that it sealed about 358 pharmacies, patent medicine shops and arrested four patent medicine vendors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This was disclosed by the Registrar, Ibrahim Ahmed during a press conference held on Friday in Abuja.
Ahmed said 90 pharmacies and 268 patent medicine shops were sealed out of a total of 584 premises visited during the enforcement exercise from Monday to Thursday.
He said, “At the end of the current enforcement exercise in FCT, a total of 584 premises were visited. This comprises 185 pharmacies and 399 premises made up of 90 pharmacies and 268 patent medicine shops were sealed for various offenses, some of which include operating without registration with PCN, failure to renew premises license.”
Ahmed said, “Some of the premises were dispensing ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist, and some were in poor sanitary conditions.
“Five pharmacies and patent medicine shops were issued compliance directives.
“Four patent medicine vendors were arrested. Three of them were arrested for breaking PCN seals and one for displaying fake patent medicines vendor licence in his shop.
“A large percentage of open drug markets are not fit for human consumption due to poor handling and constitute a threat to public health.”
He further added that, “The Abuja Zonal Office of the PCN has been directed to give necessary guidance to all those wishing to engage in the pharmaceutical business within the FCT.”
