PCN seals 571 pharmacies, medicine shops in Bauchi 

PCN Director of Enforcement, Pharm. Stephen Esumobi, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen shortly after the enforcement on pharmaceutical premises and medicine shops in Bauchi,  lamented that the rate of  sale of hard substances was alarming in the state, adding that the Council would work with other relevant agencies to break the network of circulation.

“Illegal medicine dealers were also found to engage in the sale of large quantities of substances of abuse to members of the public especially within the state capital thus aggravating the social and security challenges emanating from the illicit use of these medicines.

Esumobi said in 2022 the PCN enforcement team visited the state and some medicine outlets were sealed for operating in breach of our laws and regulations.

He noted that the council took steps to correct anomalies observed on those premises.

“The PCN staff met with owners of such premises and most of them gave assurance that they will comply with our laws and regulations. The PCN through our state and zonal offices in Bauchi took steps to guide owners of medicine shops on steps they needed to take to operate in line with the laws.

“However in spite of this during the current enforcement exercise showed that many of these premises did not take steps to improve their storage facilities,” he added.

Esumobi further disclosed that other breaches committed by owners of pharmaceutical premises include operating without registration and non-renewal of premises certificates, poor documentation, patent medicine vendors stocking medicines outside the approved drug list and carrying out clinical services, wholesalers engaging in retail, pharmacies operating without a superintendent pharmacist.