The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 430 pharmaceutical premises in Yobe State following a four-day enforcement operation across 10 local government areas.
The Head of Enforcement of the PCN, Suleiman Chiroma, told journalists in Damaturu on Thursday that 601 premises were inspected in Damaturu, Potiskum, Nguru, Fune, Bade and five other LGAs.
“Of the 601 premises inspected during the exercise, 50 per cent were found to be operating illegally,” Chiroma said.
According to him, 300 were unregistered illegal outlets, 267 were Patent Medicine Vendor (PPMV) stores and 34 were pharmacies.
He disclosed that 300 illegal outlets, 110 PPMV stores and 20 pharmacies were sealed, while 21 compliance directives were issued.
“Illegal premises accounted for 70 per cent of all facilities sealed,” he added.
Chiroma expressed concern over low compliance, noting that “only 41 per cent of pharmacies and 63 per cent of PPMV outlets met regulatory standards.”
He also decried the low number of pharmacies, which made up just six per cent of the premises visited.
“This statistic reflects the low level of pharmaceutical care and services in the state,” he said.
On breaches, he listed “operating without PCN licences, poor storage, unauthorised access to controlled drugs and use of apprentices for dispensing.”
“These practices, if not checked, pose a danger to public health and could lead to treatment failure, drug abuse and antimicrobial resistance”, he warned.
The exercise was carried out under the PCN Establishment Act 2022 to ensure access to safe medicines in line with the National Drug Policy.
Chiroma said the council would sustain regulatory oversight and urged the public to “obtain medicines only from premises licensed by the PCN.”