The Federal Government said it sealed about 25,000 illegal pharmacy stores across the country in eight years. This, it said, was in order to uphold and promote the integrity and tenets of the pharmacy profession. It also said the action will protect Nigerians from quacks and unsafe medicines, and meeting the needs of patients.
The outgoing Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Dr Elijah Mohammed, made this known in Abuja during the presentation of his administration’s scorecard.
He said: “The illegal premises that were sealed within the period under review were about 25,000 across the federation. Reasons ranging from poor documentation, poor hygiene, poor environment, and inappropriate behaviours in their shops and premises.
“Before I came, we had 17 faculties of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences in Nigeria. However, during my tenure, we added seven and about seven pending.
“Following my appointment as the Registrar of PCN in June 12, 2014, my administration decided to work with Council members, stakeholders and members of staff of PCN and put in place a pharmacy practice that is generational in thought, actions and deeds; and ultimately promote the tenets of the profession to meet the needs of the patient.
“I also set up a mission to create societal change agents out of career professionals (Pharmacists and Pharmacy personnel) through self-transformation as intellectual practitioners with good moral courage. This success is attributable to the Federal Ministry of Health and all stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector that cooperated and supported PCN all the way.”
The Chairman of the PCN, Prof. Ahmed Mora said: “I think Dr Mohammed is a very lucky person. In the now 30 years of the PCN, there have been three substantive registrars, including himself and two Acting Registrars.