LAGOS SEALS 24 PHARMACIES, PATENT MEDICINE STORES

The Commissioner disclosed that the affected Pharmacies and Patent Medicine shops were established to be operating  without licence; engaging unqualified persons to oversee and dispense drugs to unsuspecting citizens and operating beyond scope through sale of unethical products.

Penpushing further reports that, Abayomi said other offences included displaying and storing drugs in unconducive environments, thus which compromising the potency of the drugs and rendering them ineffective.

The Commissioner emphasized that some of the premises visited were engaging in illegal clinical practices, such as patient admission and setting of intravenous infusions, both of which were illegal to the practice.

Penpushing also reports that Abayomi assured that government would continue to insist that the environment for the dispensation of medical care be suitable for the promotion and maintenance of good health for citizens, noting that the enforcement was coming on the heels of the war being waged against fake drugs and illegal drug shops.

The Commissioner declared that the roles of the State Task Force on Fake Drugs would not only be sustained, but further intensified until operators in the sector adhered strictly to the provisions of the law on the operation of pharmacies and patent medicine shops.

Penpushing reports that, Abayomi pointed out that only licensed patent medicine vendors were authorised to sell drugs in their original packs and in approved pack sizes, as produced by the manufacturing companies.

The Commissioner stressed that the law prohibits dispensing and wholesaling of drugs by patent medicine vendors and wholesalers operating outside their scope by selling drugs in retail, emphasizing that government would not relent in its efforts at stopping the inherent dangers associated with the operations of unlicensed pharmaceutical outlets and drug shops.

Penpushing further reports that the closure exercise was effected by the State Taskforce on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods, in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The team also includes Pharmacists’ Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Federal Taskforce on Fake Drugs and the police officers from Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) of the Lagos Police Command.

Meanwhile,  the affected pharmacy aaand paten medicine stores were situated at Abule Egba, Alagbado, Kola, Meiran, Ekoro and Oko-Oba, all in Ifako Ijaiye and Alimosho Local Government areas of Lagos respectively