The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has closed 666 unregistered medicine shops in Kaduna State for operating in violation of National Drug Distribution Guidelines.
This enforcement action, which commenced earlier this week, focused on open drug markets and other locations where medicines were sold without proper registration and oversight.
The initiative aims to ensure the safe and effective distribution of medicines, safeguard public health, and prevent the sale of harmful substances within the state.
At a press conference on Thursday in Kaduna, PCN Director of Enforcement, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi, reported that the crackdown involved 895 premises, including 47 pharmacies, 313 patent medicine shops, and 306 illegal medicine shops. During the enforcement, 9 compliance directives were issued to owners of establishments found to be operating unlawfully.
Esumobi stated, “At the end of the enforcement exercise which began early this week, a total of eight hundred and ninety-five (895) premises were visited. This is made up of seventy-five (75) pharmacies, five hundred and fourteen (514) patent medicine shops, and three hundred and six (306) illegal premises.”
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He added, “A total of six hundred and sixty-six (666) premises were sealed. The premises sealed include forty-seven (47) pharmacies, three hundred and thirteen (313) patent medicine shops, and three hundred and six (306) illegal medicine shops.”
Esumobi emphasized that the PCN office in Kaduna is prepared to assist those whose shops were sealed if they seek to comply with the regulations. He explained that the closures were due to various infractions, including selling medicines in open markets, operating without council registration, poor documentation, inadequate storage facilities, and selling ethical products without a pharmacist’s supervision.
“The PCN will not tolerate the sale of medicines in open drug markets and other unregistered locations. We will continue to enforce the National Drug Distribution Guidelines to protect public health and prevent the sale of harmful substances,” Esumobi said.
He noted that unregistered medicine shops operating in open markets across Kaduna State pose significant risks to public health due to substandard storage conditions, which could lead to the degradation of medicines.
“The implication of this is that most of the medicines sold in these locations may no longer be fit for human consumption due to degradation of the active ingredients,” he warned.
Esumobi cautioned that the PCN would not hesitate to take further action against non-compliant medicine dealers and reiterated the council’s commitment to assist those who wish to adhere to the regulations.
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