PCN Cleans Up Abuja: 531 Illegal Medicine Outlets Shut Down

PCN Cracks Down 531 Illegal Medicine Outlets Shut in Abuja

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 531 medicine outlets in Abuja for non-compliance with regulations, ensuring public health and safety.

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 531 medicine outlets in Abuja for non-compliance with regulations. The closures were due to violations such as operating without registration, inadequate documentation, and selling ethical products without pharmacist supervision.

The Director of Enforcement, Stephen Esumobi, announced the closures on Friday, June 28. The PCN, a federal government agency, is responsible for regulating and overseeing pharmacy education, training, and practice in Nigeria, as mandated by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Establishment Act 2022.

Esumobi stated that the PCN is committed to ensuring that all medicine outlets operate in accordance with the law and professional standards, to protect the health and well-being of Nigerians. The council will continue to monitor and enforce compliance with regulations to prevent the sale of counterfeit and substandard medicines.

Esumobi said, “The council's National Enforcement team carried out a week- long enforcement exercise in the FCT, visiting 908 premises, including pharmacies, patent medicine shops, and illegal medicine outlets. The team sealed 531 premises, including 90 pharmacies, 144 patent medicine shops, and 297 Illegal medicine shops.”

He noted that the council is exploring technological solutions to improve patients' access to medications, making it easier for them to obtain the treatments they need.

“PCN is developing software for people to source their drugs anywhere they are,” he said.

Esumobi highlighted the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medical practices, but stressed that it cannot replace human interaction, particularly in situations requiring verbal communication. He emphasized that AI should complement human expertise, not replace it.

Esumobi encouraged the public to play an active role in ensuring the safety and integrity of medical practices by reporting any suspected illegal drugstores or practitioners in their communities. The public can report such incidents through the PCN website, helping the council to take prompt action and protect public health.

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has established a robust regulatory framework, including state and zonal offices, Pharmaceutical Inspection Committees, and Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendors Licence Committees, to ensure the effective regulation and oversight of pharmacy practice in Nigeria.

To promote compliance with regulations, the PCN has organized orientation and continuing education programs for patent medicine shop owners in the FCT. These initiatives aim to ensure that owners operate in accordance with the law, prioritizing the safe and effective distribution and dispensing of quality medicines.

The recent shutdown of medicine outlets is a crucial step towards ensuring the rational distribution and dispensing of safe, effective, and quality medicines at all levels of Nigeria's healthcare delivery system. By taking this action, the PCN is protecting public health and promoting the well-being of Nigerians.