PCN Seals 287 Pharmacies, Patent Medicine Stores in Kogi

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 287 pharmacies and patent medicine stores in Kogi State for various offences discovered during its four-day enforcement exercise across the state.

PCN’s Deputy Director Enforcement, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi, who disclosed this on Friday in Lokoja said that a total of 373 premises were inspected by the enforcement team out of which 287 premises comprising 27 pharmacies and 260 patent medicine stores were sealed for various illegal acts.

He said some of the offences committed by the affected pharmacies and patent stores include operating without registration with PCN, failure to renew premises license, dispensing ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage and sanitary conditions, among others.

Esumobi named the areas visited by the PCN enforcement team to include Lokoja, Kabba, Okene, Ajaokuta, Obajana, Bassa, Ankpa, Anyigba, Dekina, Adogo, Idah and Okehi.

According to him, the enforcement exercise was part of the core mandates of the PCN aimed at ensuring rational distribution and dispensing of medicines that are safe, effective and of good quality to the public.
He observed that many pharmaceutical premises in Kogi State commenced operations without fulfilling the minimum requirements for registration while others failed to renew their licenses.

Esumobi maintained that PCN cannot guarantee the quality and integrity of drugs sold in unregistered outlets and thus advised members of the public to always purchase medicines from licensed pharmacies, patent and propriety medicine shops.

He said that owners of unregistered medicine outlets have been visiting the PCN Kogi State office to register or renew their licenses since the commencement of the exercise, adding that those whose premises were sealed would be unsealed once they satisfy the requirements expected of them.

Credit: Daily Trust