Illegal Medicine Shops Closed
Over 400 unauthorized medicine shops were recently shut down in Cross River State as part of a major crackdown by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN).
This move also led to the arrest of five individuals involved in the illegal distribution of medicines, aimed at safeguarding the quality, safety, and efficacy of pharmaceuticals within the healthcare system.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Pharmacist Stephen Esumobi, the Director of Enforcement for Cross River State, revealed this in a statement on Friday.
He explained that the closures followed a thorough inspection of drug dealers’ operations across the state, emphasizing the necessity of regulatory compliance to protect public health.
Esumobi highlighted that the PCN’s enforcement actions are crucial in identifying unregistered entities distributing medications without proper oversight.
During the operation, approximately 500 locations were inspected, resulting in the closure of 405 establishments and the arrest of five individuals.
Illegal Medicine Shops Closed
“The sealed premises included 31 pharmacies, 174 patent medicine shops, and 200 illegal medicine shops,” Esumobi stated.
“Additionally, five compliance directives were issued, and five illegal medicine dealers were arrested for breaking the PCN’s seal.”
He also pointed out that inadequate management of pharmaceutical products significantly contributes to the poor quality of medicines in the distribution chain, noting that “the storage conditions in most of these premises are very poor, with a high possibility that many products have degraded due to exposure to harsh environmental factors like high temperature, humidity, and direct sunlight.”
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