The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) says it has arrested 16 illegal medicine dealers in various areas of Rivers State.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday, PCN Director of Enforcement, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi said about 178 pharmacies were sealed in Port Harcourt and Obio Akpor local government areas in the state.
Esumobi said the pharmacies were sealed for offences such as operating without registering with the council, selling ethical medicines without the supervision of a pharmacist among others.
He said many of the offenders do not have appropriate storage facilities, thereby exposing medicines to unfavourable environmental factors that either degrade them or transform them to other biologically active substances.
He also added that the illegal outlets do not have registered pharmacists to supervise the dispensing of drugs.
Esumobi said the action has contributed to the irrational dispensing of drugs resulting in adverse effects on unsuspecting members of the public.
He said, “As a result of this intervention, some premises upgraded their facilities to meet conditions of storage of medicines while others have employed pharmacists to supervise pharmaceutical activities.
“However, some of the premises owners in the state who refused to comply with guidelines broke the PCN seals and continued with their illegal activities.
This prompted this follow up enforcement visit which was jointly carried out with the officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
“16 illegal medicine dealers have been arrested so far for breaking PCN seals and efforts are ongoing to apprehend and prosecute other suspects who are currently at large.
“Also 178 out of 251 premises visited were sealed off for offences such as operating without registration with PCN , incomplete registration, selling ethical medicines without the supervision of a pharmacist among others.”
