The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed off 462 pharmacies and patent medicine stores for operating without registration with the body and poor sanitary conditions among others.

The director, Inspection and Monitoring, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Pharm. Anthonia O Aruya, said in Gusau that the PCN Enforcement Team had been in Zamfara since the beginning of the week and they had visited various parts the state including Gusau, the state capital.

She said the team observed that in Zamfara state many pharmaceutical premises commenced operations without fulfillment of the minimum requirement for registration while failed to renew their licences.

“Some of these premises stored products in environments where the quality, safety and efficacy pharmaceutical products cannot be guaranteed thus exposing the public to serious danger,” she added.

Mrs Aruya further explained that one of the core mandated of PCN is to ensure rational distribution and dispensing of medicines that are safe, effective and of quality to the public and pharmaceutical facilities are expected to fulfil certain conditions in line with the PCN guidelines before registration.

She then advised members of the public to purchase their medicines from licensed pharmacies and simple household remedies from licensed patent and propriety medicines shops. (Daily Trust)