The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) recently shut down 666 illegal medicine shops in Kaduna State because they were operating without the proper rules.
This action started earlier this week, targeting places where medicines were sold without following any safety checks or registrations.
Speaking to the media in Kaduna on Thursday, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi, the PCN Director of Enforcement, said the goal was to make sure medicines are distributed safely and to stop harmful drugs from being sold. This is important to keep people healthy.
They visited 895 places, including 47 pharmacies, 313 patent (licensed) medicine shops, and 306 illegal medicine shops.
During this operation, they also gave 9 warnings to shop owners who were breaking the rules.
Esumobi explained that out of the 895 places they checked, there were 75 pharmacies, 514 patent medicine shops, and 306 illegal stores.
He said they ended up closing 666 of these places.
This included 47 pharmacies, 313 licensed medicine shops, and 306 illegal medicine shops.
Esumobi emphasized that the PCN will not allow medicines to be sold in open markets or other unregistered places. They will keep enforcing the National Drug Distribution Guidelines to protect people’s health and stop unsafe drugs from being sold.
He mentioned that unregistered medicine shops in open markets are very risky for public health because they do not store medicines properly. This can make the medicines lose their effectiveness and become unsafe to use.
Because of this, many of the medicines sold in these places might not be safe for people to take anymore.
He warned that the PCN will keep taking action against medicine dealers who don’t follow the rules and said they are ready to help those who want to comply with the regulations.