Lafia, June 14, 2019. (NAN) The Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) has urged quack Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) across Nasarawa State to quit and engage in other forms of economic activity.
Mr Stephen Esumobi, PCN Director of Enforcement in the state gave the warning at a press conference held in Lafia, North Central Nigeria, on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PCN called briefing to intimate the press and by extension, the public on the outcome of its inspection tour of pharmacies and medicine stores across the state throughout the week.
Esumobi said during the inspection, officials of PCN observed that some medicine vendors in some parts of the state were unable to communicate in English which affected their capacity to properly advise and explain to customers on the proper use of the drugs they are selling.
He said the continuous selling of drugs by the people was a huge risk and advised them to engage in other forms of economic activities.
“The PCN enforcement has been on the field throughout the week visiting various local government areas of the state.
“Some observations from the field in Nasarawa State revealed that while there is commendable level of compliance by stakeholders across the state, some others engaged in the sale of medicines with disregard to laid down guidelines.
“Adherence to approved scope of practice by such stakeholders was largely non-existent as people without requisite knowledge or skills to handle medicines in their facilities abound.
“Improper handling of controlled substances was also observed,” he said.
Esumobi said the PCN had already set up two committees namely: Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee and Proprietary and Patent Medicine Vendors Licence Committee to ensure that all regulations guiding selling of drugs were adhered to.
He said the committee would also ensure that only those with the prerequisite capacity were granted approval to sell drugs in the state.
“Few persons were found to be unable to communicate in English, a situation that could result in a plethora of treatment misadventures with grave public health implications.
“The team advises such persons to quit and engage in other forms of economic activity,” he said.
The director also urged the public to source its drug needs from registered and currently licensed pharmacies and over the counter medicines from registered PPMV shops as drugs sold in unregistered outlets cannot be guaranteed to be genuine.
NAN reports that PCN is a Federal Government parastatal charged with the responsibility of regulating the education, training and practice of pharmacy in all its aspects and ramification.
