By Kazeem Waris
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 797 drug outlets across Kano State, including 437 illegal premises and 352 Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor (PPMV) stores, during a four-day enforcement operation.
The Council said the exercise was part of its ongoing efforts to sanitise the state’s drug distribution system and protect residents from the risks associated with the sale and distribution of medicines outside approved regulatory channels.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kano on Friday, Head of the PCN Enforcement Department, Suleiman S. Chiroma, who represented the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, said the operation was conducted in line with the National Drug Policy and National Drug Distribution Guidelines.
According to him, the enforcement team visited 1,153 premises across 28 local government areas, covering areas including Bichi, Tsanyawa, Gwarzo, Wudil, Gaya, Ajingi, Kiru, Tudun Wada, Ungogo, Bebeji, Gezawa, Dambatta, Makoda, Minjibir, Rano and Bunkure.
Chiroma said the premises inspected comprised 16 pharmacies, 700 patent medicine stores and 437 illegal drug outlets.
He disclosed that eight pharmacies, 352 patent medicine stores and all 437 illegal outlets were sealed, bringing the total number of premises shut to 797.
The Council also issued six compliance directives to operators found to have breached regulatory requirements.
Chiroma said several of the affected premises were operating without registration, while some patent medicine vendors were found selling medicines outside the scope of products permitted under their licences.
He said inspectors discovered patent medicine stores stocking ethical medicines, injectables and intravenous infusions, among other products they were not authorised to sell.
Other violations identified included poor record-keeping, improper signage, poor hygiene and the presence of poisonous substances accessible to non-pharmacists.
The enforcement team also shut down the illegal drug cluster at Dalan Gyada on Katsina Road, with the Council warning that the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines sold there could not be guaranteed.
“I wish to bring to the attention of the good people of Kano State that the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines sold at the Dalan Gyada illegal drug cluster cannot be guaranteed,” Chiroma said.
He stressed that all 437 illegal premises identified during the exercise were sealed in accordance with the law.
The PCN urged residents to patronise only licensed pharmacies and patent medicine stores, warning that medicines obtained from unregulated outlets could pose serious risks to public health.
“Members of the public are urged to obtain medicines exclusively from premises licensed by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria. The display of a valid and current licence is mandatory and confirms that the facility is duly authorised to operate,” Chiroma said.
