PCN seals off 36 pharmacies and 142 patent medicine stores on HWN UPDATE

A total of 178 premises, comprising of 36 pharmacies and 142 patent medicine stores, have been sealed off in Rivers State by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN).

The council is a federal parastatal charged with the responsibility of regulating and controlling the education, training and practice of pharmacy in all its aspect and ramifications.

Director and Head of Department, Inspection and Monitoring, PCN, Abuja, Mrs Anthonia Aruya, made this known while addressing a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Friday.

She said the affected premises were sealed off for not abiding by the rules and regulations of the body.

According to her, the offences included dispensing of drugs without the supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage conditions, selling medicine above approved list for patent medicine vendors and non-registration of premises with PCN.

She disclosed that a core mandate of PCN was to ensure rational distribution and dispensing of medicines that were safe, effective and of good quantity.

Aruya maintained that it was observed that so many premises commenced operations in Rivers State without following the laid-down guidelines, stressing that some premises were located in environments that were not conducive.

She disclosed that the act of failing to meet the minimum requirements for storage and personnel exposes members of the public to the dangers of consuming medicines which safety, quality and efficacy could not be guaranteed.

The PCN director further stressed on renewal of certificate with the council, stating that the annual registration of premises was mandatory and it was to ensure that registered premises and shops continued to maintain or improve on the standard that qualified them for licensure.
A total of 178 premises, comprising of 36 pharmacies and 142 patent medicine stores, have been sealed off in Rivers State by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN).

The council is a federal parastatal charged with the responsibility of regulating and controlling the education, training and practice of pharmacy in all its aspect and ramifications.

Director and Head of Department, Inspection and Monitoring, PCN, Abuja, Mrs Anthonia Aruya, made this known while addressing a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Friday.

She said the affected premises were sealed off for not abiding by the rules and regulations of the body.

According to her, the offences included dispensing of drugs without the supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage conditions, selling medicine above approved list for patent medicine vendors and non-registration of premises with PCN.

She disclosed that a core mandate of PCN was to ensure rational distribution and dispensing of medicines that were safe, effective and of good quantity.

Aruya maintained that it was observed that so many premises commenced operations in Rivers State without following the laid-down guidelines, stressing that some premises were located in environments that were not conducive.

She disclosed that the act of failing to meet the minimum requirements for storage and personnel exposes members of the public to the dangers of consuming medicines which safety, quality and efficacy could not be guaranteed.

The PCN director further stressed on renewal of certificate with the council, stating that the annual registration of premises was mandatory and it was to ensure that registered premises and shops continued to maintain or improve on the standard that qualified them for licensure.

Source: Tribune, HWN Africa.