The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Akwa Ibom State has called on pharmaceutical stores in the state to sell only registered drugs and maintain good storage facilities in their premises.
The Akwa-Ibom state coordinator at the agency, Mr. Collins Ogedegbe said this during an inspection of pharmaceutical stores in Uyo.
Mr. Ogedegbe who is an Assistant Director said that the exercise was aimed at mopping up some drugs that ought not to be in circulation and those not properly stored.
He said that some of the pharmacies were found selling unregistered products like food supplements and honey, while some sensitive drugs were not properly stored, adding that those products were eventually confiscated and the pharmacies would be sanctioned.
According to him, “this exercise will cover the entire state in furtherance to the agency’s alert from its pharmaco vigilance and post – marketing surveillance arm that all drugs are not supposed to be in circulation such as high dose tramadol and should be mopped up.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Ogedegbe has decried the situation where some dubious bakers use other people’s labels to sell their bread.
A press release signed by the South South media officer of the agency, Mr Cyril Monye, warned those involved in the act to desist in their own interest.
“If you exhaust your label, please go and print new ones avoid the temptation of using another person’s label which is criminal” he said.
He also restated the commitment of NAFDAC to encourage and guide providers who are willing to abide by the laid down guideline.