The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed off no fewer than 242 pharmacies and patent medicine shops in Kwara state contravening laid down guidelines of the council.

The affected shops included 14 pharmacies and 228 patent medicines in Ilorin, Offa, Oro, Omu-Aran and Ijagbo.

PCN's Deputy Director and Head of Enforcement, Stephen Esumobi told reporters at the weekend in Ilorin, the state capital that offences for the closure of the shops "range from dispensing poisons without the supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage conditions, selling medicines above the approved list for patent medicine vendors, non-registration of premises with PCN. "

Eleven premises were issued compliance directives for offences like poor documentation, untidy environments.

"In Kwara state we discovered that so many premises commenced operations without following laid down guidelines; while many of the premises are located in environments that are not conducive for the sale of medicines, so many others failed to meet minimum requirements for storage and personnel thus exposing members of the public to the dangers of consuming medicines whose quality, safety and efficacy cannot be guaranteed.

"Another category of offenders are registered premises that failed to renew their premises certificate with PCN. The annual renewal certificate is mandatory and it is to ensure that registered premises continue to maintain or improve on the standards that made them qualified for licensure," Esumobi stated.

He explained that the PCN took the decision to sensitise all stakeholders to follow the laws that regulate the sale of medicines in Nigeria as the council will not tolerate the sale of medicines without submission to regulatory control.

"Furthermore, members of the public who wish to operate patent medicine stores or pharmacies are advised to visit the PCN state or zonal offices for proper guidance."