505 Premises Shut For Regulatory Violations In Cross River

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 505 pharmaceutical premises in Cross River State following a four-day enforcement exercise across 10 local government areas.

PCN Director of Enforcement, Dr Suleiman Chiroma, disclosed this on Friday in Calabar, saying inspectors visited 602 premises made up of 94 pharmacies, 217 PPMV stores and 291 illegal outlets.

He said 48.3 per cent of the outlets inspected were operating illegally.

Chiroma stated that “505 premises were sealed, including 54 pharmacies, 160 PPMV stores and all 291 illegal outlets,” adding that only 42.5 per cent of pharmacies and 26.8 per cent of PPMV stores complied fully with regulatory standards.

He attributed the violations to operating without valid licences, poor medicine storage and unauthorised access to controlled medicines.

He warned that the trend promotes substandard drugs and that “uncontrolled access to regulated medicines could fuel criminal activities through diversion into illegal channels.”