Pharmacy council seals 397 pharmacy premises in Oyo

In a significant move to uphold pharmaceutical standards and safeguard public health, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has conducted a rigorous enforcement operation across Oyo State, resulting in the sealing of 397 premises. This decisive action targeted pharmacies, patent medicine stores, and numerous illegal outlets that were found to be non-compliant with prescribed regulations.

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This constitutes a breach with immediate public safety implications, including but not limited to potential poisoning, drug abuse and addiction epidemics, and compromise of the integrity of the national drug distribution system

Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, Head of Department, Enforcement at the PCN, detailed the operation's findings during a press conference in Ibadan. The exercise, which spanned several local government areas including Ona-Ara, Oluyole, and Ibadan North, inspected a total of 590 premises. Of these, 164 were pharmacies, 170 were patent medicine stores, and a staggering 256 were identified as illegal operations.

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In line with her enabling law, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria has been conducting enforcement operations in Oyo State since Monday, to ensure compliance with prescribed pharmaceutical standards.

The PCN's enforcement efforts are crucial in combating the proliferation of unregistered and substandard medicine outlets. Dr. Chiroma highlighted that many sealed premises were unlawfully storing and dispensing medicines beyond their authorized scope, posing a direct threat to public safety. Such practices can lead to poisoning, exacerbate drug abuse epidemics, and compromise the integrity of the national drug distribution system.

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The NDDG requires that all medicines be distributed only through approved channels, from the point of manufacture or importation down to the end user. This framework ensures proper storage and handling at every step, safeguarding the quality, strength, and effectiveness of medicines throughout the supply chain.

This operation underscores the PCN's commitment to enforcing the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG), which mandate that all medicines be distributed through approved channels from manufacturer to end-user. By removing non-professional actors and addressing inadequate storage infrastructure, the PCN aims to ensure the quality, strength, and effectiveness of medicines available to Nigerians. The issuance of five compliance directives alongside the sealing of premises indicates a multi-faceted approach to regulatory enforcement.

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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