PCN seals 122 pharmacies and 367 patent medicine stores in Akwa Ibom

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed a total of 489 pharmaceutical premises in Akwa Ibom State for failing to comply with regulatory standards.

The affected premises include 122 pharmacies and 367 patent medicine stores, while six others were issued compliance directives.

Disclosing this during a press conference in Uyo on Thursday, PCN’s Head of Enforcement, Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, said the enforcement followed a week-long inspection exercise aimed at ensuring adherence to professional standards in the pharmaceutical sector.

According to Chiroma, the move was necessary to rid the system of unqualified operators and guarantee safe access to quality medicines across the country.

He noted that the affected outlets were located across 14 local government areas, including Uyo, Okobo, Oron, Ikot Ekpene, Ikot Abasi, Abak, and Essien Udim.

Other council areas covered in the operation were Ibiono Ibom, Ikono, Ini, Eket, Ibeno, Ibesikpo Asutan, and Itu.

According to Chiroma, “The National Drug Distribution Guidelines, which PCN is enforcing, are to ensure proper and effective channels of drug distribution, thereby addressing the chaotic drug distribution system that made it easy for untrained persons to be involved in handling medicine.

“One of the serious misnomers and trends observed during the exercise was the uncontrolled and rampant training of apprentices by some premises, which is a blatant violation of the PCN Act.”