PCN seals 308 pharmacies, patent medicine shops in Benue

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, PCN, has sealed the premises of 308 Pharmacies and Patent Medicines Vendors Shops, PMVS, in Benue state for violating laid down rules and guidelines.

Director Enforcement, Stephen Esumobi who disclosed this at a press conference in Makurdi the Benue State capital on Thursday evening said the sealed premises included 56 pharmacies and 252 patent medicines vendor shops.

He explained further that the affected pharmacies and medicine shops were sealed for various offences ranging from poor sanitary conditions, poor documentation and non-display of premises and pharmacists’annual licences.
Esumobi also listed the LGAs where the exercise was carried out to include Makurdi, Guma, Gwer East, Gwer West, Tarka, Gboko, Ushongo, Otukpo, Ukum, Logo, Oju, Obi and Ohimini.

“Observation from the field indicated that many of the premises commenced operations without approval while a large number of registered premises do not bother to renew their licences.

Most of these premises have not met requirements with respect to location, storage and personnel. Due to inadequate storage facilities, medicines are exposed to harsh environmental factors like high temperature and humidity, which either degrade or transform them to other biologically active substances that could damage the liver, kidneys or other vital organs,” Esumobi said.

While noting that the council would continue to carry out the exercise to ensure that the right things are done, Esumobi commended the Ministry of Health, the media, Department of State Service (DSS), the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for their continuous collaboration with PCN.

MTO/Sun