Fake Drugs: 321 phamacitical stores sealed in 28 states over poor licensure, quackery

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Authorities of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has announces that 321 pahamacitical stores in 28 states of the federation have been sealed over alleged cases of quackery, non-compliance with regulatory laws and lack of registered personnel to handle medicines in their premises.

According to the PCN, a total of 427 phamacitical premises and Pay Per Million Volume stores (PPMVs) were visited by its inspection and monitoring team with 36 pharmacies and 285 Pay Per Million Volume stores (PPMVs) sealed over alleged improper handling of controlled substances, unhygienic Enviroment and poor docentation and dispensing ethical/prescription drugs without presence of a pharmacist.

The PCN Director, Inspection and Monitoring, Mrs.Anthonia Aruya , who confirmed the development during a media briefing held on friday in Yenagoa, said though some 13 pharmacies were given compliance directives for various offences, the inspection tour and seal of affected pharmaceutical stores is the first phase of the process and further action will follow in due course.

Mrs. Iruya the PCN observed,during a field tour of Bayelsa State, revealed that many people go into sale of medicine without following due process, “others do not have the requisite knowledge or skills to handle all categories of medicine. The PPMVs on the other hand are by law restricted to handle over the counter drugs (OTC) that have proven safety margin. ”

She called on the general public to always ask for the registration status of facilities by requesting for licences from pharmasitical outlets to safeguard themselves from patronising quacks.

She noted that it is required by law for all pharmaceutical facilities to register with the pharmacists Council of Nigeria and to ensure continuous licensure of same to legally key into the drug distribution value chain, ” the implication of non-licensure is the fact that drugs sold inbsuch facilities cannot be guaranteed to have same quality and efficacy as set by the manufacturer since the unregistered facilities have not been subjected to regulatory control that will promote the maintenance of integrity of such products down the value chain. “

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