By John Attah
A disagreement has erupted between the Edo State chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and the state Consumer Protection Committee (CPC) over alleged raids on pharmaceutical premises, seizure of expired and adulterated drugs and imposition of fines.
The pharmacists accused the committee of exceeding its statutory powers by entering pharmacies to inspect and confiscate drugs, insisting that the regulation of pharmacy practice falls under federal authorities.
Addressing journalists in Benin City on behalf of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), an arm of the PSN, its state Chairman, Pharm. Chris Oisakede, said pharmacists had established procedures for handling expired drugs in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
He explained that expired medicines were not simply discarded because of the danger they posed to the public.
“An expired drug is dangerous and poisonous, so they are usually gathered and handed over to NAFDAC, which has the protocols for destroying them,” he said.
Oisakede, who was flanked by other ACPN executives, maintained that the CPC lacked the legal authority to inspect, supervise or regulate pharmacy practice.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Edo State CPC has no jurisdiction or authority, whether directly or indirectly, to enter, inspect, supervise or regulate the practice of pharmacy in Nigeria in any manner whatsoever,” he declared.
He said pharmacy practice was governed by applicable federal legislation, adding that community pharmacists played critical roles in patient counselling, promoting rational medicine use, ensuring treatment adherence and identifying medicine-related problems.
The PSN consequently urged the committee to immediately stop pharmaceutical inspections, raids, harassment, seizures, sealing of premises and imposition of penalties without clear statutory authority.
However, reacting to the allegations, CPC chairman, Osaro Culture Iyamu, defended the committee’s operations, citing Section 8 of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act as the legal basis for its enforcement activities.
Iyamu said the law empowered him to enter premises where there were reasonable grounds to suspect violations, inspect products and packaging, and take samples for examination.
He added that the provision also authorised the seizure of counterfeit, adulterated, banned or fake drugs, confiscation of unwholesome processed food products and sealing of premises connected with offences.
