Victoria Mgbanwa
The Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria has closed down 751 medicine shops in the Gombe open drug market on Thursday.
The medicine shops were closed down because they did not register with the council.
The PCN Director of Enforcement, Stephen Esumobi, explained that the reason for the shut down was because of offences ranging from the sale of medicines in the open market to operating without registration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.
“At the end of the exercise, a total of 1001 premises were visited. This is made up of 71 pharmacies, 346 patent medicine shops and 584 illegal premises, including those in the Gombe open drug market.
“A total of 751 premises were sealed. The premises sealed include 39 pharmacies, 128 patent medicine shops and 584 illegal medicine shops.” he said.
He further disclosed that the PCN, as a government agency, was not interested in crippling businesses but is willing to encourage growth bearing safety of the people in mind.
