PCN Seals 572 drug outlets across Plateau State after uncovering illegal medicine sales, poor compliance and regulatory violations

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 572 pharmacies, patent medicine stores and illegal medicine outlets across Plateau State following a four-day enforcement operation that uncovered widespread regulatory violations, including illegal clinical practice, unauthorised access to controlled medicines and poor compliance with pharmaceutical standards.

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The disclosure was made in Jos on Friday by the PCN Head of Enforcement Department, Suleiman Chiroma, who spoke on behalf of the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the council, Ibrahim Ahmed.

Chiroma said the exercise was conducted under the provisions of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Establishment Act No. 31 of 2022 as part of efforts to enforce the National Drug Distribution Guidelines and sanitise Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain.

The PCN Seals 572 Drug Outlets operation covered Jos South, Jos North, Mangu, Shendam, Barkin Ladi, Qua’an Pan and Bassa local government areas.

According to Chiroma, inspectors visited 778 premises comprising 199 pharmacies, 499 patent medicine stores and 80 illegal medicine outlets.

“Consequently, 572 premises were sealed, including 120 pharmacies, 372 patent medicine stores, and 80 illegal outlets. In addition, five compliance directives were issued,” he said.

The enforcement chief described the findings as alarming, noting that approximately 60 per cent of the pharmacies inspected were shut for various infractions.

“Of the 199 pharmacies visited, 60 percent were sealed.

This finding reflects a deeply concerning standard of pharmaceutical practice within the state and underscores the need for the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria to intensify its regulatory efforts in Plateau State,” he said.

The council also expressed concern over the dominance of non-pharmacy medicine outlets within the state’s healthcare distribution network.

Chiroma said only 26 per cent of all inspected premises were registered pharmacies, while the majority consisted of patent and proprietary medicine vendors and illegally operated facilities.

Among the violations uncovered were the practice of cooking inside medicine outlets, widespread unauthorised clinical services, unlawful storage and dispensing of medicines beyond approved limits, and unauthorised access to poison cupboards by non-pharmacists.

Inspectors also documented cases of operators failing to present valid licences or registration documents, operating unregistered premises and obstructing authorised inspectors during the exercise.

Chiroma warned that such practices present a serious threat to public safety and national security.

“Such practices pose grave risks to public health and national security, as controlled medicines may be diverted into the hands of criminal elements and insurgents,” he said.

Despite the large number of closures, the council noted that illegal outlets accounted for a relatively small proportion of the total premises inspected.

According to the PCN, 10 per cent of the 778 premises visited were operating illegally, representing 14 per cent of all facilities sealed during the exercise.

However, the council said compliance levels among registered pharmacies remained unsatisfactory.

“Only 40 percent of the pharmacies inspected were in good standing, a figure that remains unsatisfactory. A significant number of pharmacies were found to have incomplete registration status,” Chiroma stated.

He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to sustained regulatory oversight, stressing that all premises involved in the handling and distribution of medicines would continue to face rigorous inspections.

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The PCN also urged residents of Plateau State to patronise only licensed and properly registered medicine outlets to safeguard their health and ensure access to quality pharmaceutical services.