The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed a total of 379 premises comprising of 66 pharmacies and 313 patent medicines stores in Rivers State.
This was disclosed by the Director and Head of Enforcement Department, PCN, Mr. Stephen Esumobi, while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, on Thursday.
Esumobi said that affected premises were sealed for different offences bordering on operating without registration, renewal of premises certificates and poor storage facilities.
He noted that out of the 543 stores visited by the council in the state, 379 premises sealed were in Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas.
He said: “Most of the premises were sealed for offences which include operating without registration or renewal of premises certificates, unauthorized sale of medicines of abuse, poor access control to the Poison Cupboards, poor storage facilities, stocking and sale of prescription and other ethical products by Patent Medicine Vendors among others.”
While explaining that the activities of operators and owners of the affected shops were a threat to public health, Esumobi noted that a total of nine compliance directives were issued to store operators at the end of the exercise.
“In spite of the efforts of the council in Rivers State, so many patent medicine shop owners and other stakeholders, have chosen to operate in total disregard for public safety. Most patent vendors are not registered with PCN and engage in activities far beyond their scope thereby endangering public health.”
He thanked the state Ministry of Health, the Police, and other security agencies for the collaboration in the enforcement exercise.
The PCN director further advised Rivers residents to source all drug needs from registered and licensed pharmacies, and over-the-counter medicines from registered patent medicine shops for their health safety.
