In a bid to address the illegal activities of some drug
dealers, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 581 pharmacies across
eight local government areas in Adamawa State. The affected areas include Yola
North, Yola South, Mubi North, Mubi South, Girei, Numan, Michika, and Demsa.
During a press briefing on Friday, Stephen Esumobi, the
Director of Enforcement at PCN, stated that the pharmacies were operating below
the council's required standards. “A total of 581 premises were sealed, which
includes 35 pharmacies, 325 patent medicine shops, and 221 unregistered
medicine outlets,” he reported.
Esumobi instructed the Adamawa State office of the PCN
to continue monitoring pharmaceutical establishments in the state, emphasizing
the need to hold accountable those who do not adhere to the regulations.
Despite previous meetings with operators, many have failed to comply with PCN
guidelines since the council's last enforcement actions in 2022.
He highlighted the ongoing issue of illegal medicine
dealers selling substances that contribute to public health and safety
challenges. “Pharmacies lacking licensed pharmacists to supervise the
dispensing of prescription medications will face severe penalties,” he warned.
Esumobi also noted that many establishments were
located in unsuitable areas for pharmaceutical operations and urged these
operators to relocate or face potential sanctions.
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