The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), sealed over 751 medicine shops in the Gombe open drug market, on Thursday.
The PCN is a Federal Government institution tasked with overseeing and regulating pharmaceutical education, training, and practice in every aspect.
Stephen Esumobi, the Director PCN of Enforcement, stated that the patent medicine stores were sealed for offences ranging from the sale of medicines in the open market to operating without registration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.
Esumobi added that poor documentation, poor storage facilities, and stocking of ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist included some of their breaches.
He noted that the PCN enforcement team had operated in five local government areas of the state from to April 20 to 25, covering Gombe, Akko, Yalmatu Deba, Funakaye and Billiri LGAs.
“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 the Gombe open drug market, he said.
“A total of 751 premises were sealed. The premises sealed include 39 pharmacies, 128 patent medicine shops and 584 illegal medicine shops.”
Esumobi revealed that the PCN, as a government agency, was not interested in crippling businesses but eager to promote growth, while bearing safety in mind.
He added, “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,”.
