PCN Arrests Seven, Seals 218 Medicine Shops In C’River

At least, seven persons have been arrested by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) in Calabar for offences which the Pharmacist Council alleged were unethical and  against the interest of public safety.
Director, Inspection and Monitoring, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Pharm. Mrs. Anthonia Oruya disclosed this in Calabar while briefing Journalists on the outcome of the Council’s visitation to Cross River State.
Aruya numerated the offences committed by the patent medicine dealers in Calabar to includes poor handling of controlled substances, sales, dispensing of  ethnical and prescription drugs without supervision of Pharmacist, unhygienic environment, poor documentation, among others,
which the council claimed were against public safety.
She said that at the end of the exercise, a total of 276 premises were visited comprising of 19 Pharmacies and two hundred and fifty seven patent medicine shops and illegal outlets.
“7 arrests were made and a total of two hundred and eighteen premises were sealed comprising of eight pharmacies and two hundred and 10 patent shops and illegal outlets,” she stressed.
The director said, “Two premises were issued compliance directives for various offences ranging from poor handling of controlled substances, sale and dispensing of ethnical and prescription drug without supervision of pharmacist.”
She urged members of the public to at all times ask for the registration status of facilities where they access medicine by requesting for the current licenses issued by the Pharmacists Council
of Nigeria from any pharmaceutical outlets in order to safeguard themselves from patronizing quacks.
Aruya advocated for the visitation of PCN national headquarters Abuja or any of the Zonal/State offices nationwide for proper guidance on how to set up such facility by law.

Aruya maintained that the PCN will not relent in carrying out its responsibilities until the country is completely rid of illegal activities in the pharmaceutical sector of the country.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar