In other to sanitize the drug distribution value chain in Nigeria, the pharmacists council of Nigeria (PCN) yesterday seal up to three hundred and fifty-eight (348) Outlets in Ebonyi State.
They were sealed for committing various offenses including none registration,
The council threatened to prosecute any outlet that breaks their seal, sale of prescription medicine above the approval to them as well as non-documentation of drugs they sell.
The Registrar, pharmacists council of Nigeria Pharm N.A.E Mohammed made this known to journalists in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
Represented by pharm ( Mrs) Anthonia Aruya, director inspection, and monitoring, pharm Mohammed explained that the federal government set up Committee on pharmaceutical sector Reform, the federal government approved the “National Drug Distribution Guideline” Consequently a team was dispatched to Ebonyi State for inspection.
He said several local government areas of the State including Ebonyi, Ikwo, Ivo, Izzi, Afikpo, Ishielu respectively were visited by the team.
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“At the end of the exercise, a total of five hundred and fifty- six (556) premises were visited comprising of forty-Nine (49) pharmacies and five hundred and seven (507) patent medicine shops.
” A total of three hundred and forty-eight (348) premises were sealed comprising of three (3) pharmacies and three hundred and forty-five (345) patent medicine shops.
“Five (5) premises were issued compliance directives for issue ranging from sale and dispensing of ethical/ prescription drugs without the supervision of a pharmacist, unhygienic environment, and poor documentation among others, in the interest of public safety”.
He maintained that all pharmaceutical outlets or premises where drugs are manufactured, warehoused, distributed, sold or dispensed in the State must be registered and licensed by the council.
“ethical or prescription medicines are to be sold under the supervision of a pharmacist, while controlled by medicines are to be handled by pharmacists exclusively.
The council warned that anyone that operates outside the rules is operating in violation of the law and shall be prosecuted accordingly.
