Pharmacy council shuts over 600 unregistered medicine shops in Kaduna

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has shut down 666 unregistered medicine outlets in Kaduna State for violating the National Drug Distribution Guidelines.

This enforcement operation, which began earlier in the week, targeted open drug markets and other locations selling medicines without proper registration and regulation.

The effort is aimed at ensuring safe and effective medicine distribution, protecting public health, and curbing the sale of dangerous substances in the state.

Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna on Thursday, PCN’s Director of Enforcement, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi, revealed that the operation covered 895 premises, including 47 pharmacies, 313 patent medicine shops, and 306 illegal outlets.

Additionally, 9 compliance directives were issued to operators found to be in violation of the regulations.

Esumobi stated, “At the end of the enforcement exercise which began early this week, a total of eight hundred and ninety-five (895) premises were visited. This is made up of seventy-five (75) pharmacies, five hundred and fourteen (514) patent medicine shops, and three hundred and six (306) illegal premises.”

He added, “A total of six hundred and sixty-six (666) premises were sealed. The premises sealed include forty-seven (47) pharmacies, three hundred and thirteen (313) patent medicine shops, and three hundred and six (306) illegal medicine shops.”

Esumobi emphasized that the PCN office in Kaduna is prepared to assist those whose shops were sealed if they seek to comply with the regulations.

He explained that the closures were due to various infractions, including selling medicines in open markets, operating without council registration, poor documentation, inadequate storage facilities, and selling ethical products without a pharmacist’s supervision.

“The PCN will not tolerate the sale of medicines in open drug markets and other unregistered locations. We will continue to enforce the National Drug Distribution Guidelines to protect public health and prevent the sale of harmful substances,” Esumobi said.

He noted that unregistered medicine shops operating in open markets across Kaduna State pose significant risks to public health due to substandard storage conditions, which could lead to the degradation of medicines.

“The implication of this is that most of the medicines sold in these locations may no longer be fit for human consumption due to degradation of the active ingredients,” he warned.

Esumobi cautioned that the PCN would not hesitate to take further action against non-compliant medicine dealers and reiterated the council’s commitment to assist those who wish to adhere to the regulations.