PCN seals 498 premises in Lagos over illegal drug sales, regulatory violations

By Chioma Obinna

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 498 pharmaceutical premises crossed Lagos State for violating regulations governing pharmacy signifier and the handling of medicines successful the country.

The affected premises see 215 pharmacies, 83 patent medicine stores, and 200 amerciable medicine shops, according to the PCN’s Head of Enforcement, Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, who briefed journalists connected Thursday astatine the Council’s zonal bureau successful Yaba, Lagos.

Chiroma said the enactment followed a week-long enforcement workout conducted crossed 20 section authorities areas, including Ikeja, Apapa, Ikorodu, Alimosho, Surulere, and Lagos Island.

He explained that the workout was portion of the PCN’s ongoing efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s cause organisation strategy and curb the proliferation of unlicensed and substandard medicine outlets.

“During the enforcement exercise, 845 premises were inspected, comprising 483 pharmacies, 162 patent medicine stores, and 200 amerciable medicine shops. Out of these, 498 were sealed for contravening assorted regulatory provisions,” Chiroma stated.

The infractions included operating unregistered premises, nonaccomplishment to renew licenses, engaging successful unauthorised objective practices, improper retention of controlled medicines, and wholesalers conducting retail sales—all successful usurpation of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2022.

He added that 29 different premises received compliance directives to close identified lapses and conscionable regulatory standards.

Chiroma expressed interest implicit the increasing inclination of unregulated entree to controlled substances by non-pharmacist unit successful immoderate outlets, informing that specified practices endanger nationalist information and could pb to cause maltreatment oregon diversion.

“We observed that successful respective outlets, controlled medicines and poisons were not securely stored arsenic required by law. This poses superior risks to nationalist health,” helium warned.

The enforcement main assured that the Council would intensify surveillance to deter aboriginal violations, reaffirming the PCN’s committedness to ensuring that lone qualified professionals grip medicines successful licensed and decently regulated environments.

He noted that the Council’s mandate includes regulating pharmacy education, training, and practice, arsenic good arsenic enforcing the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG) to guarantee medicines are channelled done approved, quality-assured systems.

“Our extremity is to support nationalist wellness by ensuring that medicines circulating successful the state conscionable required standards of safety, quality, and efficacy,” Chiroma added.

The PCN urged Nigerians to patronise lone licensed pharmacies and patent medicine vendors whose existent operating licenses are visibly displayed wrong their premises.

“By being vigilant and patronising approved outlets, Nigerians tin assistance forestall the circulation of substandard oregon falsified medicines,” Chiroma advised.

He besides commended Lagos residents for their practice during the exercise, noting that nationalist enactment is important to maintaining a harmless and well-regulated pharmaceutical environment.

The station PCN seals 498 premises successful Lagos implicit amerciable cause sales, regulatory violations appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.