PCN Shuts 19 Shops in Akwa Ibom

The Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State chapter, on Wednesday shut down three pharmaceutical outfits and 16 patent drug shops in the state.

The affected outlets were said to be operating without licences.

Some hung fake licences in their outlets while others were found to be selling fake and counterfeit drugs to members of the public.

The South-South Zonal Coordinator, PCN, Dr. Paul Gar, said many of the shops, which had licences operated beyond their bounds.

Gar said the inspection carried out by the committees on Pharmaceutical Inspection and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors was not meant to be punitive but to educate, enlighten, sensitise and correct the anomalies.

He said, “The committees in Akwa Ibom State had carried out inspections in the state to ascertain compliance with the law. The outings of the committees have been revealing in many instances as minimal compliance was observed.

“The current exercise is actually a follow-up to earlier inspection and monitoring exercises. In the course of this enforcement exercise, the pharmaceutical inspectors were forced to take the hard decision to close down facilities (both pharmacies and patent medicine shops) whose owners had failed to heed earlier warnings.”

Gar cautioned that drugs were different from commerce, adding that it was imperative that they were appropriately handed over to users with correct advice on appropriate use, possible adverse effects, and more.

One of the patent medicine vendors, Mr. Eyo Okon, said a man in Ibesikpo/Asutan Local Government Area of the state, was the one that usually get them licences.

He said, they believed that the man, being a pharmacist, would always get genuine licences but expressed shock when PCN said the licences were fake.

He said, “I have been operating this business for a very long time. Nobody has ever said that I have fake licence or have been accused of selling fake drugs. But since the PCN said that drug sellers must comply with certain basic requirements and get genuine certificates, I have no choice but to obey.

“I have been in this business for long, and where will I go? This is what I learnt, but I know the measure will only be for a short while.”

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Posted: at 20-07-2012 07:01 AM (11 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Fake PCN, go to the north and do it or is the north not part of it? Nigeria is not one, every law created in this country is only enforceable in the south. Go and close one shop in the north and see if U will not be killed instantly. Nonesense

Posted: at 24-07-2012 10:54 PM (11 years ago) | Upcoming