The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) says it has sealed 342 pharmacy and patent medicine outlets, just as it arrested one person in Ogun.
The Director of Enforcement, Mr Stephen Esumobi made this known while addressing journalists on Friday in Abeokuta.
Esumobi said that the exercise was part of the council’s effort to sanitise the drug distribution system in the country.
According to him, 646 premises were visited, out of which 342 were sealed for offences ranging from operating without registration or renewal of premises certificate and poor storage conditions among others.
Others are unauthorised sale of substance of abuse, operating without employing a superintendent pharmacist, poor sanitary conditions and unauthorised training of apprentices.
Esumobi added that one person was arrested for fraudulently collecting money for premises registration and renewal from stakeholders.
“At the end of the exercise, a total of 646 premises were visited; these comprise of 533 patent medicine shops and 113 pharmacies.
“A total of 342 premises were sealed which comprise of 316 patent medicine shops, 26 pharmacies.
“Also, 19 compliance directives were issued while one person was arrested for fraudulently collecting money meant for premises registration,” he said.
The pharmacist explained that the enforcement was not punitive, “as we don’t want to put people out of business” but insisted that recalcitrant individuals would be made to face the law.
Esumobi said that the arrested suspect took advantage of unsuspecting stakeholders while collecting money from them and generating fake remittal for them, adding that he would be charged to court on Monday.
The enforcement was carried out across the state in various locations like Sango-ota, Ilaro, Ifo, Sagamu, Mowe/Ibafo, Ogere and Abeokuta.
He urged the public to source all their drug needs from registered and currently licensed pharmacies and patent medicine shops, saying that enforcement is a continuous exercise.
