PCN destroys N100m expired drugs in escalated fight against fake drugs
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Expired drugs worth N100 million have been destroyed in Adamawa by the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) in a swoop on substandard drugs which has led to the sealing up of 707 pharmaceutical premises in Lagos and Akwa Ibom.
The expired drugs were mopped up from pharmacies and patent medicine stores across Adamawa, as disclosed by State Deputy Assembly Speaker Pwamakino Mankendo, who supervised the destruction at Conerware, a sub of Yola.
Mankendo, who represented Speaker Iya Abbas, commended PCN for not allowing the expired drugs into the market, particularly in rural areas.
He said expired drugs getting to end users would not “only endanger the lives of our people, but also increase the insecurity problem currently facing the state and the country at large.”
Adamawa National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Commander Femi Agbolu also said the cache would have worsen drugs abuse if it had been sold.
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Negative influence of drugs
Every negative action is influenced by drugs, Agbolu stressed, and the destroyed drugs could have influenced youths and politicians to cause problems during elections, according to reporting by Vanguard.
Adamawa PCN Chairman Ibrahim Talba disclosed the drugs were seized as part of efforts to get rid of expired and fake drugs from the state.
He urged the public to check the expiry date on medications and warned pharmacies and patent medicine stores to stop selling expired or fake drugs in their own interest.
PCN seals up 707 pharmaceutical premises
The PCN two weeks ago sealed up, for various offences, 439 illegal pharmaceutical premises comprising 42 Pharmacies and 397 patent medicine shops in Akwa Ibom.
PCN Registrar Elijah Mohammed announced on 17 September in Uyo the illegal were sealed when the national enforcement team visited some council areas.
Mohammed, represented by PCN Director Enforcement Stephen Esumobi, listed the councils to include Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Abak, Nsit Atai, Uruan, Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun, Oron, Itu, Ibiono Ibom, Eket, Nsit Ibom, and Mbo.
He said the proliferation of illegal medicine shops, which worsened during the pandemic lockdown in 2020 and 2021, prompted the PCN to step up enforcement countrywide.
Back in August, PCN sealed up 268 pharmaceutical outlets in Lagos for operating with expired licences and in unregistered premises, among other infringements of the law.
Mohammed disclosed at a press conference that PCN national enforcement team visited various parts of the state and issued compliance directives to 15 premises for various lapses in professional practice.
Mohammed, represented by PCN Inspection & Monitoring Director Anthonia Arya, said the team also monitored compliance with COVID-19 guidelines.