The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) sealed 268 pharmaceutical premises in Lagos State for deliberately operating with expired licenses and in unregistered premises against the provisions of the Law.
A total of 585 premises were visited, 268 premises were sealed and 15 premises were issued compliance directives for lapses that can easily be corrected.
PCN said the exercise was carried out in their efforts to sanitise the distribution value chain towards the provision of quality pharmaceutical services delivery to the public.
According to the PCN Registrar, Pharm Elijah Mohammed, who divulged this at a press conference weekend, explained that the PCN’s National enforcement team visited various parts of the state during which it issued compliance directives to 15 premises for various lapses in professional practice.
The Director, Inspection & Monitoring of the PCN, Pharm. Anthonia Arya, who represented the Registrar, said the team also monitored compliance to the guidance of COVID-19 guidelines.
“The National enforcement team of the PCN has been on ground in Lagos State since August 10 this year and visited various parts of the state,” she noted.
At the end of the exercise, a total of 585 premises were visited, 268 were sealed for not registering or renewing their premises as required by Law or infringing on any other provision of the Law. 15 premises were issued compliance directives for lapses that can easily be corrected.
The PCN, according to the director, suspended its enforcement activities due to the lockdown but had to resume when it was discovered that illegal medicine sales’ outlets with attendant unwholesome practice are springing up due to the exemption from the lockdown given to the pharmaceutical sector to provide pharmaceutical services to the public during the lockdown.
Arya adds, “The PCN in fulfillment of its mandate has been carrying out enforcement activities nationwide in a bid to sanitise the distribution value chain towards the provision of quality pharmaceutical services delivery to the general public.”
The director hinted, “By law all premises where pharmaceutical activities take place are expected to be registered and currently licensed by the PCN after meeting up with the laid down guidelines that will ensure that minimum standard of practice is in place in such facilities to maintain the integrity of such products as it moves down the distribution value chain until it gets to the patients or client.”
