The Pharmacist Council of Nigeria, PCN, has sealed a total of 387 pharmacies and medicine stores in Benue state.
The Director, Inspection and Monitoring, PCN, Pharm. Anthonia Aruya disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the federal secretariat in Makurdi, on Friday.
According to her, the council has visited the state in continuation of it activities to sanitize the system for better pharmaceutical services delivery in the state and Nigeria at large.
She said in infulfilment of its mandate, the council has been carrying out enforcement activities across the states as stated in PCN ACT Cap P17; LFN, 2005 and also in line with the National Drug Distribition Guideline (NDDG), of the federal government.
Pharm. Aruya explained that the encorcement ecercise was geared towards streamlining the drug distribution value chain to promote the provision of safe, effective and quality medicines distributed along registered and currently licensed premises.
At the end of the exercise, she said a total of 556 premises were visited comprising of 84 pharmacies and 472 patent medicine shops.
“A total of 387 premises were sealed comprising of 44 pharmacies and 343 patent medicine shops while a stakeholder was arrested.
“Sixteen premises comprising of three pharmacies and 13 Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor, PPMV, shops were issued compliance directives for various offences ranging from poor handling of controlled substances, sale and dispensing of ethical/prescription drugs without the supervision of a pharmacist, unhygienic environment, poor documentation among others.
READ ALSO: PCN Seals 327 Drug Outlets In Jigawa
The Director advised the general public to always verify registration status of facilities where they access their medicines to safeguard themselves from patronizing quacks.
While appreciating the State Ministry of Health, Security agencies and the media for their support and collaborations, she also advised intending entrants into the medicine business to visit PCN headquarters in Abuja or any of the zonal or state offices for proper guidance on how to set up such facilities by law.
She warned that any premises found operating above their scope of operation such as sale and dispensing of ethical products without the presence of superintendent pharmacists or handling of controlled medicines by non pharmacists was operating in violation of the PCN law.
Our Correspondent observed that most pharmacies and patent medicine stores in the state, particularly in Makurdi town have been shut since Monday this week while at the office of PCN, at the federal secretariat, shop owners have thronged the place to sort out their papers.
Aruya was flanked by the Director of Enforcement, Steven Esumobi and state officer PCN, Mrs. Hawa Nyigba during the briefing.
