Three hundred and forty-two Pharmacies and Patent Medicine premises have been sealed by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria in Ogun State for contravention of laid-down storage and safety protocols of drugs distribution and dispensing.
The Pharmacists Council also during the inspection and enforcement drive arrested a person in Abeokuta, the state capital, for allegedly engaging in fraudulent collection of money meant for premises registration and renewal from unsuspecting applicants and issuing fake remital receipts.
The head of enforcement department of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Mr. Stephen Esumobi, while addressing newsmen in Abeokuta explained that the affected pharmacies violated the nineteen minimum compliance directives standards for storage of medicines in the country.
The offences according to Esumobi, ranged from operating without registration or renewal of premises certificate; unauthorized sales of substances of abuse; poor sanitary; poor storage to operating without a certified superintendent pharmacist among others.
He explained that the weeklong enforcement exercise was carried in major areas of Ifo, Owode, Sagamu, Abeokuta, Ogere and Ijebu area of the state.
Mr. Esumobi noted that the affected Pharmacies would be given a month window grace to regularize their status if they intend to remain in the business.
He hinted that the Council would provide the needed assistance for those affected centers to enable them evacuate drugs that have low safety margins noting that the effort was to encourage them to be engaging in best standard practice.
The head of enforcement department declared that the council would not hesitate at applying the full wrath of the law against recalcitrant vendors.
He further explained that two standing committees were on ground in Ogun state responsible for continuous monitoring and inspections of pharmacies and medicine shops.
Mr. Esumobi who declined to reveal the identity of the arrested suspect issuing fake remital receipt in Ogun State however assured that the suspect will be charged to court after end the current judicial holidays.
Wale Oluokun
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