The Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN) says it has sealed 358 medicine stores in Taraba over various professional offences.

Mrs Anthonia Aruya, the Director of Inspection and Monitoring of the councildisclosed this at a press conference in Jalingo on Friday.

Aruya said that 539 premises were visited during the inspection exercise, comprising 52 pharmacies and 487 patent and proprietary vendors across the state.

According to her, out of the 358 premises sealed,seven were pharmacies, while 351 were patent and proprietary medicine vendors.

“We issued 16 compliance directives, including one pharmacy and 15 PPMVs for various offences.

“These range from improper handling of controlled substances, unhygienic environment,poor documentation and dispensing of ethical prescription drugs without the presence of pharmacists.

“This is the first phase of activities of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria geared at streamlining the drug distribution in Taraba and further action will follow in due course to ensure the provision of good pharmaceutical services in the state,’’ she said.

Aruya decried a situation where many people go into the sale of medicines without due recognition of the laid down guidelines for setting up such facilities.

She lamented that some people not permitted by law to handle controlled substances were found to have stocked and sold such products in disregard to the law thereby endangering the public.

“Observation from the field in Taraba revealed that many people go into the sale of medicines without the requisite knowledge to handle medicine and some operate beyond their approved scope.

“More worrisome is the fact that some could not communicate in English or even read and write in English, leaving one to imagine how they are able to handle medicine in their facilities and the attendant serious public health implications.” she noted.

The director explained that the agency was not out to punish people selling drugs,but to educate,correct and build capacity and ensure compliance to safety and storage standards for a healthier Nigeria. (NAN)