Ebonyi: PCN shuts 348 pharmacies, patent medicine shops

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria has closed down three pharmacies and 345 patent medicine shops in Ebonyi State.

This was disclosed at a news briefing on Thursday night by the Registrar of the Council, Elijah Mohammed.

He further added that five premises were equally issued compliance directives.

The compliance directives given to the five premises, according to him, bothered on issues ranging from sale and dispensing of ethical/prescription drugs without the supervision of a pharmacist, unhygienic environment, and poor documentation among others, in the interest of public safety, The Punch said.

Represented by the Director, Inspection, and Monitoring, Anthonia Aruya, the Registrar said the Council was in Ebonyi State to ensure compliance to regulations and guidelines bothering on the pharmaceutical sector, according to The Punch.

Mohammed said, “The PCN has been in Ebonyi State since November 30, and has visited several local government areas of the state including Ebonyi, Ikwo, Ivo, Ezza, Afikpo, Ezilo among others.

“This is in continuation of its activities aimed at sensitising the system for better pharmaceutical services delivery to the good people of the state and the nation at large.

“At the end of the exercise, a total of five hundred and fifty-six (556) premises were visited comprising forty-nine (49) pharmacies and five hundred and seven (507) patent medicine shops.

“A total of three hundred and forty-eight (348) premises were sealed comprising three (3) pharmacies and three hundred and forty-five (345) patent medicine shops.”