Pharmacy Council of Nigeria on Thursday sealed no fewer than 751 medicine shops in Gombe open drug market.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that PCN is a Federal Government agency charged with the responsibility of regulating and controlling the education, training and practice of pharmacy in all its aspects in line with Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Establishment Act 2022.
According to the Director of Enforcement, Pharmacist Stephen Esumobi, the business premises were sealed for offences ranging from sale of medicines in the open market, operating without registration with Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.
Esumobi added that poor documentation, poor storage facilities, stocking of ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist included some of their breaches.
He disclosed that the PCN enforcement team had operated in five Local Government Areas from 20th to 25th April, 2024, where they covered Gombe, Akko, Yalmatu Deba, Funakaye and Billiri LGAs.
He said, “At the end of the exercise a total of 1001 premises were visited. This is made up of 71 pharmacies, 346 patent medicine shops and 584 illegal premises including those in Gombe open drug market.
“A total of of 751 premises were sealed. The premises sealed include 39 pharmacies, 128 patent medicine shops and 584 illegal medicine shops.”
Esumobi disclosed that the PCN as a government agency is not interested in crippling businesses but willing to encourage growth bearing safety in mind.
“The PCN has mandated its office in Gombe to render all necessary assistance to medicine dealers in the state open drug market and other locations who are willing to comply with regulations,” he added.
