Pharmacists Council shuts down 724 premises in Kwara, cautions public about unauthorized pharmacies

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has taken drastic action in Kwara State, sealing a total of 724 pharmaceutical and patent medicine facilities during a recent enforcement exercise that spanned the entire state, while also cautioning the public against visiting unlicensed medicine outlets.

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The warning was issued by Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, the Registrar of the Council, who addressed the media in Ilorin to discuss the outcome of the four-day operation.

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The exercise was conducted across 10 local government areas, namely Ilorin South, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Asa, Offa, Ifelodun, Oyun, Moro, Irepodun, and Edu, as part of the Council's efforts to regulate the industry.

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A total of 1,238 premises were inspected during the operation, which included 167 pharmacies, 957 patent medicine stores, and 114 illegal outlets, according to Ahmed.

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Of the inspected premises, 724 were sealed, comprising 68 pharmacies, 542 patent medicine stores, and all 114 illegal outlets, while 11 compliance directives were also issued to certain premises.

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Ahmed noted that only 9 per cent of the inspected premises were found to be operating illegally, which he described as a relatively low rate that indicates improved regulatory compliance in the state.

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The inspection results showed that 59.2 per cent of pharmacies were fully compliant with regulatory standards, compared to 43 per cent of patent medicine vendors, highlighting a disparity in compliance rates between the two types of outlets.

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The breaches uncovered during the exercise included operating without valid PCN licences, poor storage conditions, and unauthorised handling of controlled medicines, among other violations that could pose a risk to public health.

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Such practices can lead to serious consequences, including treatment failures, antimicrobial resistance, and diversion of controlled drugs, as well as other security risks, according to Ahmed.

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Ahmed urged Nigerians to ensure that they only obtain medicines from duly licensed premises, emphasizing that valid PCN licences must be visibly displayed for verification purposes.

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The Registrar reaffirmed the Council's commitment to strengthening the regulation of pharmaceutical practice and supporting the Federal Government's Universal Health Coverage agenda, stressing that safe and quality-assured medicines are essential for effective healthcare delivery.