The Plateau State Ministry of Health has sealed the pharmacy of Zenith Life Hospital in Jos over allegations that an expired Ringer’s Lactate intravenous fluid was administered to a patient.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, disclosed this on Saturday while briefing journalists in Jos.
Baamlong said investigations revealed that an expired Ringer’s Lactate infusion, batch number B21284, manufactured in November 2021 and due to expire in October 2024, was allegedly administered to the patient.
He explained that the action followed a joint investigation by the ministry, the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency (DMCMA), the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
According to him, the probe uncovered serious violations of pharmaceutical and clinical practice, including operating without a licensed pharmacist, poor medicine management, and other unprofessional practices capable of endangering patients’ lives.
The commissioner said the pharmacy would remain sealed pending the completion of investigations and full compliance with regulatory requirements.
He added that appropriate sanctions would be applied where culpability is established, in line with Section 54 of the Pharmacy Act 2022 (No. 31).
“The Plateau State Government treats patient safety and quality healthcare delivery as non-negotiable. In the interest of public safety, the hospital pharmacy will remain closed until all regulatory requirements are met,” Baamlong said.
He reaffirmed the state government’s zero tolerance for quackery, negligence and unethical practices in the health sector, and urged healthcare providers to strictly adhere to professional and regulatory standards, particularly in medicine handling, staffing and patient care.
