PCN seals 572 drug stores in Plateau over regulatory violations

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 572 pharmacies and patent medicine stores across Plateau State following a four-day enforcement exercise. The closures are attributed to various violations of pharmaceutical regulations, including practices such as cooking within drug outlets, engaging in illegal clinical activities, and unauthorized handling of controlled medicines.

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The PCN is mandated to regulate and control pharmacy education, training, and practice in all its aspects and ramifications, including Pharmacy Technicians and Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendors (PPMVs).

Dr. Suleiman S. Chiroma, Head of the Enforcement Department, stated that the operation was conducted in line with the PCN's mandate under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act No. 31 of 2022. This act empowers the council to regulate and control pharmacy education, training, and practice comprehensively. The crackdown is part of a broader effort to enforce the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG), established by the Federal Government to reform Nigeria's "chaotic drug distribution system."

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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 primary objective of the NDDG is to ensure that drugs are distributed exclusively through approved channels, from manufacturers or importers to the end-users. This intervention seeks to systematically remove non-professional actors from the pharmaceutical supply chain and rectify deficiencies in storage infrastructure, which are considered fundamental to eradicating substandard and falsified medicinal products.

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This intervention is fundamental to the eradication of substandard and falsified medicinal products.

During the enforcement exercise, 778 premises were inspected across several local government areas, including Jos South, Jos North, and Mangu. Of these, 572 were sealed, comprising 120 pharmacies, 372 patent medicine stores, and 80 illegal outlets. Dr. Chiroma described the findings as "deeply concerning," noting that 60 percent of the 199 pharmacies visited were sealed, highlighting a significant need for intensified regulatory efforts in Plateau State. The PCN reaffirmed its commitment to advancing health sector reforms and ensuring the availability of safe, quality medicines for Universal Health Coverage.

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The availability of safe and quality medicines remains indispensable to the delivery of effective healthcare services.