The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria in Ebonyi State has sealed seven pharmacies and 96 patent shops for failing to renew their registration with the council and for engaging in unwholesome practices.
Anthonia Aruya, the Director and Head of Inspection and Monitoring Department of the council, made this known on Friday in Abakaliki while speaking with newsmen.
According to Aruya, 96 Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors shops were also sealed for operating illegally and stocking drugs beyond their scope.
She said: “We inspected a total of 296 facilities, which included 38 pharmacies and 258 PPMV in 23 towns across the 13 local government areas of the state.
“The towns visited included Abakaliki, Isu, Oshiri, Afikpo, Unwana, Ezillo, Owutu-Edda, Nkalagu, Onueke, Umuoghara, Okwor,Effium, Ntezi, Ezzamgbo, Akaeze, Ishiagu, Amudo, Iboko, Okposi, Uburu and Oriegbe, among others.”
Aruya said in compliance with its mandate, the council inspects, approves, registers and issues licence to pharmaceutical premises and shops.
She said it was to ensure maximum standards in terms of storage conditions, capacity of personnel, facility and the quality of pharmaceutical services, among others.
Aruya said: “We issued compliance directives to three shops and express happiness over the situation on ground in the state when compared to other states visited.
“We are in Ebonyi to strengthen the regulatory activities and enlighten the general public that services rendered in unregistered outlets, cannot be guaranteed and should thus be avoided.
“An example is when we witnessed the return of expired products by a consumer, which was sold to him by a vendor.”
Aruya added that some of the PPMV shops were illegal, stocking well above the approved drug list, which they had no ability to handle.
She warned that any pharmacist or vendor who flouted the council’s directives would be arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.
Aruya stressed that it was expedient that stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector adhered to stipulated regulations due to the delicate nature of the services they rendered to the public.
Trending
- Delta CP presents over N47m to 22 deceased officers’ families
- Manage your temper, self-defence claims are for court to decide- Delta PPRO
- Senator Araraume mourns Ayogu Eze
- Fidelity Bank: Improved share price as growth indicator
- ‘Ijebu’ targets fame at GOtv Boxing Night 31
- Some states will experience earth shaking, disastrous flooding — Primate Ayodele
- Hajj 2024: NAHCON describes Gov. Uzodinma as pillar of support
- TUC wants FG to pay wage award for March, April