The Cross River State Government has announced plans to clamp down on operators of illegal private medical laboratories and pharmacies across the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, made this known in a statement signed by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Williams Agba, on Sunday.

According to Mr Ayuk, it is regrettable that the operators, through their activities, have become a problem to the sector rather than a solution.

He further explained that their practice was not only unwholesome, but also unprofessional, and therefore, constituted a grave danger to the people of the state

The commissioner, however, urged illegal operators to regularise their procedures for operating laboratories and pharmacies to avoid the action the government was planning to take against them.

He stressed that the government gave the operators two weeks to carry out the regularisation procedures.

Mr Ayuk stated, “More so, the government is also determined to seal off any medical laboratory or pharmacy that does not meet the regulatory standard. Take further notice that at the expiration of this date, the state Ministry of Health shall take the necessary action without further recourse to affected persons.’’

(NAN)