By Mohammed Dala Lawan
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, PCN, has sealed four hundred and thirty pharmaceutical premises in Yobe State for various regulatory offences.
The Head of Department, Enforcement at the Council, Mr. Suleiman Chiroma, disclosed this at a press conference in Damaturu on the outcome of a four-day enforcement exercise across ten Local Government Areas of the state.
He explained that six hundred and one premises were inspected, comprising pharmacies, Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor outlets and unregistered facilities.
According to him, three hundred illegal outlets were sealed, alongside twenty pharmacies and one hundred and ten patent medicine stores, while twenty-one compliance directives were issued.
Mr. Chiroma said the inspection revealed that about fifty per cent of the premises visited were operating illegally, while poor storage conditions, operation without valid licences, unauthorised access to controlled medicines and training of apprentices were among the breaches identified.
“The Council Enforcement Team carried out inspection activities in Ten Local Government Areas of Damaturu, Jakusko, Potiskum, Fika, Fune, Nguru, Nangere, Bade, Karasuwa and Machina” Mr Ciroma added.
He further expressed concern that only six per cent of the facilities inspected were pharmacies, describing the situation as a potential challenge to access to quality pharmaceutical care in the state.
The PCN therefore urged members of the public to purchase medicines only from premises licensed by the Council, while warning that violations of pharmaceutical regulations would attract decisive enforcement action.
The Council also commended the people of Yobe State for their cooperation and called for sustained collaboration to ensure access to safe, effective and quality-assured medicines.
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