20 Pharmacies, Patent Medicine Stores Shut In Lagos

• No fewer than 20 pharmacies and patent medicine stores have been shut in Lagos State.

EKOHOTBLOG reports that the Lagos State Task Force on counterfeit, fake drugs, and unwholesome processed foods has shut no fewer than 20 pharmacies and patent medicine stores in the state.

The closure of the pharmacies and patent medicine stores was disclosed via a statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, on Thursday.

EKOHOTBLOG gathered that the pharmacies and patent medicine stores were shut at Shomolu, Bariga, and Oworonshoki areas of Lagos State.

According to Abayomi, the affected pharmacies and patent medicine stores were shut for contravening regulations guiding the operations of pharmacies and patent medicine stores.

He further noted that the pharmacies were shut for indulging in illegal practices and failing to comply with the regulatory standard.

EKOHOTBLOG reports that the commissioner was quoted to have said this after reviewing the report of the recent monitoring, inspection, and enforcement exercises carried out by the task force.

Prof. Abayomi said, “The sealing of the affected pharmacies and patent medicine stores was in accordance with the provisions of Section C34 of the Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Miscellaneous Provision Act of 1999.”

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The commissioner noted that the affected pharmacies and patent medicine shops were also sealed for offences including inappropriate storage conditions of drugs, absence of licenced pharmacists during business hours, selling of drugs not on the approved list, and the display of expired drugs for sale.

He added that the law prohibits wholesaling of drugs by patent medicine vendors and also prohibits wholesalers from operating beyond their scope.

EKOHOTBLOG reports that the commissioner, however, vowed that the activities of the state task force on fake drugs would not only be sustained but intensified until stakeholders in the pharmaceutical value chain appreciate the need to adhere strictly to the provisions of the law.

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