The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed no fewer than 381 pharmacies and patent shops in Akwa Ibom.

Stephen Esumobi, director and head of the enforcement department, made this known while addressing journalists in Uyo on Friday.

Mr Esumobi said that the sealing of the pharmacies and patent shops followed an enforcement exercise by the council to ensure that they comply with the council’s operational laws and rules.

He said out of the 381 premises sealed, 52 were pharmacies while 329 were patent medicine shops.

“These premises were sealed for offences which include operating without registration or renewal of premises certificates, unauthorized sale of medicines, abuse, and poor access control to the poison cupboard,” added Mr Esumobi. “Others are poor storage facilities and temperature control, stocking and sale of prescription and other ethical products by the patent medicine vendors, among others.”

Mr Esumobi explained that at the end of the exercise, 727 premises were visited, comprising 559 patent medicine shops and 168 pharmacies.

Esumobi said during the enforcement, the council visited Uyo and Ikono, Abak, Itu, Eket, Ibesikpo Asutan, Ikot Ekpene and Oron local government areas.

“Pharmacies must have a full-time superintendent pharmacist, who shall supervise all pharmaceutical activities within the premises. Personnel in charge of pharmaceutical premises must also have knowledge that is appropriate for the scope of pharmaceutical activity,” the PCN official added.

He revealed that all registered premises should display their current premises certificates or evidence of registration conspicuously within the premises to enable members of the public to know the status of the premises where they buy their medicine.

Mr Esumobi also mentioned that premises’ certificates “are expected to be renewed on or before January 31 every year, and it was an offence for any premises to operate without registration or renewal of their premises certificates.:

(NAN)