Health

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has locked up 22 patent medicine shops and sealed off four others in two local government areas of Jigawa.
The state Chairman of the council, Malam Muhammad Shehu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Dutse that the operators committed various offences.
Shehu said that the affected shops were locked up due to refusal to register with the council among other offences bordering on fake drugs.
He explained that the action was taken as the council commenced its annual patent medicine shops inspection across the state.
The chairman said that from July 9 till date, the council had inspected 38 patent medicine shops in Kafinhausa and Babura Local Government Areas.
“We commenced our annual inspection exercise on July 9 in Kafinhausa LGA where we inspected 21 shops and locked up 16 that have not registered with the council.
“Out of the 16 locked up shops, four were later sealed off,’’ he said.
The chairman further said that the council inspected 17 shops in Babura local government area on July 11, where 13 out the 17 shops were locked up due to similar reasons.
According to him, the council does only look at the registration aspect alone but also carry out checks whether drugs sold in those shops were approved ones, carried NAFDAC registration number, as well as production and expiry dates.
“We also ensure that they keep the shops under hygienic condition and strictly adhere to all the guidelines governing their operation,” Shehu added.
The chairman further warned that any sealed off shop that reopen and continue operation without clearance would be charged to court.
“There are three categories of sanctions for any defaulting shop; the first one is locking up, the second is sealing off and the third is taking owner of sealed off shop that open and continue with his business to court.
“Shop owners are warned to avoid opening and continuing with their businesses until they duly register with the council.
“And anyone caught will be charged to court,” Shehu warned.
He also warned them to desist from selling fake, adulterated and substandard drugs.
The chairman also assured that the inspection team would visit all patent medicine shops in the 27 local government areas of the state to ensure total compliance.