Nigeria seals 572 medicine outlets in Plateau over regulatory violations

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has taken decisive action across Plateau State, sealing a significant number of unregistered and non-compliant medicine outlets. A total of 572 pharmacies, patent medicine stores, and illegal drug vendors have been shut down during a four-day enforcement exercise.

Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, the PCN's Head of Department for Enforcement, announced the operation's success in Jos, highlighting a range of serious violations. These included the unhygienic practice of cooking within drug dispensing areas, engaging in illegal clinical activities, and the unauthorized stocking and sale of controlled medicines. These actions pose a direct threat to public health and undermine the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain.

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The major goal of the NDDG is to ensure drug distribution through approved channels, from the point of manufacture or importation to the end user.

The enforcement drive is part of a broader national effort to implement the Federal Government's National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG). The NDDG seeks to professionalize drug distribution, ensuring that medicines reach end-users through approved channels from the point of manufacture or importation. This initiative is crucial for combating the proliferation of substandard and falsified medicines in Nigeria.

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The ongoing enforcement initiative is systematically disengaging non-professional actors from the pharmaceutical supply chain and remedying deficiencies in storage infrastructure. This intervention is fundamental to the eradication of substandard and falsified medicinal products.

During the inspection, 778 premises were examined, comprising 199 pharmacies, 499 patent medicine stores, and 80 illegal outlets. The results were alarming, with 60 percent of the inspected pharmacies being sealed. Chiroma noted that only 26 percent of all inspected premises were registered pharmacies, with the remainder being patent and proprietary medicine vendors or entirely illegal operations. This imbalance underscores the prevalence of unqualified actors in the pharmaceutical sector within the state.

The PCN's actions are fundamental to eradicating counterfeit and substandard drugs and ensuring that Nigerians have access to safe and effective medications. The council plans to intensify its regulatory efforts in Plateau State to address the deeply concerning standards observed in pharmaceutical practices.

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Of the 199 pharmacies visited, 60 percent were sealed. This finding reflects a deeply concerning standard of pharmaceutical practice within the state and underscores the need for the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria to intensify its regulatory efforts in Plateau State.