The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has confirmed the sealing of over 489 pharmaceutical stores in Akwa Ibom State for lack of standards.
The breakdown shows that pharmaceutical premises sealed included 122 pharmacies and 367 patent medicine stores, while six premises were issued compliance directives.
Addressing a press conference on behalf of the Registrar of the council in Uyo, the Head of Enforcement of PCN, Dr Suleiman Chiroma, disclosed that the affected pharmaceutical premises were shut after a week-long effort to enforce the regulatory standards of the council in the State.
He said the exercise was necessary to wipe out quacks and ensure optimum conditions and expertise for access to qualitative medicines in Nigeria.
Chiroma explained that the Pharmaceutical premises were close across 14 local government areas in the state.
He listed the council areas visited by the council as Uyo, Okobo, Oron, Ikot Ekpene, Ikot Abasi, Abak and Essien Udim areas.
Others were Ibiono Ibom, Ikono, Ini, Eket, Ibeno, Ibesikpo Asutan and Itu council areas respectively.
Chiroma said: “The National Drug Distribution Guidelines, which PCN is enforcing, are to ensure proper and effective channels of drug distribution, thereby addressing the chaotic drug distribution system that made it easy for untrained persons to be involved in handling medicine.
“One of the serious misnomers and trends observed during the course of the exercise was the uncontrolled and rampant training of apprentices by some premises, which is a flagrant violation of the PCN Act.”