PCN closes 571 pharmaceutical, patent medicine shops in Bauchi

By Bimbo Ogunnaike

At least 571 pharmaceutical and patent medicine shops in Bauchi State have been sealed-off by Pharmacist Council of Nigeria(PCN).

The Director Inspection and Monitoring of the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria,  Anthonia O. Aruya, made this disclosure during a press conference as part of the council’s activities across the country.

Aruwa said exercise continuation was aimed at sanitizing the drug distribution system for better pharmaceutical services delivery to the people of the state and the nation at large.

According to Aruwa, the council has been carrying out enforcement activities across the state in fulfillment of its mandate as stated in PCN ACT Cap P17, LFN 2005 and in line with the National Drug Distribution Guideline of the Federal Government,

The director said that registered premises are inspected in line with principles of good practice and are made to meet up with minimum acceptable standards before they are licensed to practice.

Aruya said that in the course of the exercise, a good number of stakeholders were found to have started operating without following laid down guidelines for those intending to engage in handling of pharmaceutical or sale of drugs to the public.

“At the end of the exercise, a total of 682 premises were visited; comprising 19 pharmacies and 663 patent medicine shops. 571 premises were sealed; comprising 6 pharmacies and 565 patent medicine shops. 13 premises were issued compliance directives for various offences ranging from poor handling of controlled substance, sale and dispensing of ethical/prescription drugs without the supervision of a pharmacist, unhygienic environment, poor documentation, among others,” the director said.

He urged the public to ask for the registration status of facilities where they can access their medicines by requesting for the current licenses issued by the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria from any Pharmaceutical outlet to safeguard themselves from patronising quacks