62 illegal patent medicine stores sealed in Lagos since February, PSN

The stores were sealed in a move to eradicate fake drugs from the society.

The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Olumide Akintayo, on Saturday said at least 62 illegal patent medicine stores had been sealed in Lagos State since February.

Mr. Akintayo said that the stores were sealed during raids by the organisation as part of efforts to eradicate fake drugs in the society.

He said the raids were conducted in conjunction with the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, and the police.

The PSN president said that 32 of the stores, located within Ikorodu Local Government Area, were shut in February while 30 were shut in the Ajah-Lekki area of the state in April.

He said the shops were sealed for offences ranging from sale of drugs without licence to operating contrary to the provisions of the law on the operation of pharmacies.

Mr. Akintayo said the raids on the stores led to the discovery of fake drugs worth millions of naira, noting that the offenders were endangering the lives of the people.

He said the efforts to check the activities of illegal operators and producers of adulterated drugs will continue.

“Our association will go all out to make sure illegal drug shops are fished out and closed,” Mr. Akintayo said.

He said that the Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods had been mandated to comb all nooks and cranny of the state for illegal operators.

Mr. Akintayo said that the PSN was committed to streamlining the drug distribution system in the country in order to ensure the safety of the public.

He urged the public to patronise only duly registered pharmacies or patent medicine shops recognised by his association.

(NAN)