From Gyang Bere, Jos
The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has arrested two vendors for breaking their seals and closed down 434 pharmacies in Plateau for operating without a license and dispensing ethical products including substances of abuse without the supervision of a pharmacist.
Director Enforcement, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Pharm Stephen Esumobi disclosed this on Friday while briefing Journalists in Jos and lamented how uncontrolled access to substance abuse has contributed to the current security challenges in the country.
“The national enforcement team of the PCN has been in Plateau State and at the end of the enforcement exercise, a total of 641 premises comprising 208 pharmacies and 433 patent Medicine Shops were visited.
“A total of 434 premises made up of 115 Pharmacies, 319 patent Medicine Shops were sealed for various offences some of which include operating without registration with the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria, failure to renew premises license, dispensing ethical products including substances of abuse without the supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage and sanitary conditions, carrying out activities beyond the scope of their license while 2 vendors were arrested for breaking PCN seals.”
Esumobi advised the public to purchase their medicines from licensed pharmacies and simple household remedies from licensed patent Medicine Shops to avoid abuse.
He lamented that most criminals in the country take illicit substances and drugs as boosters to carry out criminal activities that lead to the mass destruction of lives and properties in the country.
He said, Controlled medicines are expected to be kept in the poison cupboard and only the pharmacist shall have access to the cupboard. Also, the dispensing of these medicines must be under the supervision of a pharmacist.
“There must be proper documentation of all purchases and dispensing of controlled medicines in the poison disposal book by the pharmacist in charge of the premises.”
Esumobi insisted that all licensed premises are required to display their current licenses or evidence of registration conspicuously within their premises or be sanctioned.