In response to unlawful operations in Kano, the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have closed 1,321 pharmacies.
This was revealed on Monday in Kano during a press conference by Mr. Francis Ononiwu, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC.
According to him, the combined activities happened on February 17 and 18, Saturday and Sunday.
He claimed that the shops could be found on Niger Street, Sabon Gari Market Kano, and the Malam sealed Kato Square.
“The enforcement action was to ensure medical dealers relocate to Coordinated wholesale centre, CWC in Dangwauro, along Zaria Road Kano.
“This is in line with our regulatory function of enforcement and ensure that only quality drugs are in circulation.
“We need to sanitize drug distribution system in the country. If drugs are not kept in a cooling premises it degrade into poisonous substances,” Ononiwu said.
He noted that most of the medicine premises visited were operating in an unventilated environment.
“Some drugs need to be stored In a refrigerator especially life saving drugs for quality output.
“Investigation revealed that some of this medicine outlet smuggle fake, narcotics products and banned products such as analgin injection illegally.
“The use of narcotics drugs contributed to the security situation in the country.
He called on the Medicine dealers to see their relocation as the survival of public health and as part of effort to continue to fight against substandard drugs.
“Medicine dealers relocation to CWC,the regulatory bodies could easily supervise any drugs coming in to address the issue of fake and substandard drugs,” Ononiwu said.
