The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 311 premises comprising 15 pharmacies and 296 patent medicine shops for breaching its guidelines and regulations in Kogi State.

The PCS Director and Head of Enforcement Department, Stephen Esumobi, made this known at a news conference in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital on Sunday.

Esumobi stated that the PCN enforcement team has been in Kogi State for some days as part of efforts to streamline the drug distribution system.

“It was observed that so many premises in Kogi still operate in breach of regulations. They operate without registration with PCN while others have failed to renew their premises licence.

“At the end of the exercise, a total of 390 premises were visited, comprising 342 PMS and 48 Pharmacies.

“A total of 311 premises were sealed, comprising 15 pharmacies and 296 patent medicines shops.

READ ALSO: Buhari grieves over loss of 76 in Anambra boat accident 

“Two compliance directives were issued while three patent medicine vendors were arrested for breaking PCN seals,” he said

Esumobi stressed that the premises were sealed for operating without registration or renewal of premises certificates, unauthorised sale of performance enhancing drugs and medicines of abuse, poor access control to the Poison Cupboards, among others.

He stated that the PCN guidelines and regulations were designed to ensure that stakeholders continued to meet the required standards of practice in their operations in line with global best practices.

He assured that the PCN would step up its enforcement activities to ensure that medicines remained safe, effective, and of good quality as they moved from one level of the distribution chain to another until they got to the consumers.

”All licensed premises are required to renew their licences on or before January 31 every year and it is an offence for any premises to operate without registration or renewal of their premises certificates,” the PCN director said.

Esumobi, however, advised the general public to source all drug needs from registered and currently licensed pharmacies and Over- the- Counter medicines from registered patent medicine shops.

He thanked the Kogi State Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the media for their continuous collaboration with the PCN.

The Star