LAGOS: 21 illegal pharmacies, patent medicine stores shut

21 illegal pharmacies, patent medicine stores shut

LAGOS State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi has said that 21 pharmacies, patent medicine shops and unlicensed premises have been shut by the State Taskforce on counterfeit, fake drugs and unwholesome processed foods.

Abayomi disclosed this on Wednesday while reviewing report of the enforcement exercise carried out by the Task Force.

Abayomi stated that the sealing of the affected pharmacies and patent medicine stores was in accordance with the provisions of Section C34 of the Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Miscellaneous Provision Act of 1999.

According to the commissioner, Alakuko, Ajegunle, Ologogoro, Ijaiye, Abule-Egba, Agbado and Agege in Alimosho, Ifako-Ijaiye and Agege  local government areas were most affected by the action. He added that the shops were shut for offences bordering on illegal operation and operating beyond scope of practice.

He added that the affected premises were sealed for offences including; operating without license, engaging unqualified persons to man and dispense drugs to unsuspecting citizens, operating beyond scope through sale of ethical products. He said most of them displayed and stored drugs in unconducive environments which compromises the potency of the drugs there by rendering them ineffective amongst others. 

The commissioner, however, stressed that only licensed patent medicine vendors are authorised to sell drug products in their original packs in approved pack size as produced by the manufacturing companies.

Speaking in the same vein, Acting Director Pharmaceutical Services, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Backley Mosunmola  Olufunmilola said that the state government will not relent in its efforts to stop the inherent dangers associated with the operations of unlicensed pharmaceutical outlets and drug shops.

 She added that the Task Force through the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate Unit (PIU) of the Pharmaceutical Services Directorate has been re-energised to intensify the on-going war against fake, expired and substandard drugs being peddled by unlicensed and illegal premises.

 “This closure is thus part of the government’s renewed efforts to sanitize the drug distribution system and curb proliferation of fake drugs in the State,” Backley said.  

 The enforcement and compliance raid by the State Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods was carried out in collaboration with the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharmacists’ Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Federal Taskforce on fake drugs and the Police Officers Lagos Police Command.