The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has shut down 666 unauthorized medicine shops in Kaduna State for violating National Drug Distribution Guidelines.
This enforcement action, which began earlier this week, focused on open drug markets and other locations where medicines were sold without proper registration and oversight.
The initiative is designed to ensure safe and effective medicine distribution, safeguard public health, and prevent the sale of potentially harmful substances.
At a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi, PCN Director of Enforcement, detailed the operation’s outcomes.
He reported that the enforcement team visited 895 premises, which included 75 pharmacies, 514 patent medicine shops, and 306 illegal outlets.
Of these, 666 premises were sealed, encompassing 47 pharmacies, 313 patent medicine shops, and 306 illegal shops.
Esumobi stated, “The enforcement exercise involved visiting 895 premises, resulting in the sealing of 666.
This includes 47 pharmacies, 313 patent medicine shops, and 306 illegal medicine shops.”
He emphasized that the PCN office in Kaduna will assist owners of the sealed shops who seek to comply with regulations.
The sealed premises were cited for issues such as selling medicines in open markets, operating without proper registration, inadequate documentation, poor storage conditions, and stocking ethical products without pharmacist supervision.
“The PCN will not tolerate the sale of medicines in open drug markets and other unregistered locations,” Esumobi warned.
“We will continue to enforce the National Drug Distribution Guidelines to protect public health and prevent the sale of harmful substances,” he added.
Esumobi further explained that unregistered medicine shops posed significant health risks due to improper storage conditions, which could lead to the degradation of active ingredients in medicines.
“This means that many medicines sold at these locations may no longer be fit for human consumption,” he added.
He concluded by warning that the PCN will take further action against non-compliant medicine dealers and reiterated that the council would support those who are willing to adhere to the regulations.
