Health Minister endorses relocation of Kano drug market

…as NAFDAC,PCN seal 1321 medicine shops in Kano

From Desmond Mgboh Kano

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, Friday endorsed the shutting down of the open drug market in Kano State, while approving their relocation to Dangwauro Coordinated Wholesale Distribution Center in the state.

Pate, who spoke after inspecting the facilities at the multi million privately owned Distribution Center, faulted the distribution of drugs in open markets.

Saturday Sun reports that following a high court judgement against the Patent and Proprietorship Medicine Dealers Association , officials of NAFDAC accompanied by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria had sealed over 1321 drug shops at Sabon Garri Market, Niger Road Market among others.

The Minister acknowledged concerns raised about the financial implications of the relocation order on the businesses of the affected medicine dealers, but held that the government was more concerned about the safety and well-being of the public.

The Minister lamented that the distribution of drugs in open market is a route by which substandard and illicit drugs find their way to the population and to the youths in particular often times damaging their future.

He held that sub -standard and counterfiet drugs have dangerous consequences, including death adding that it was against this background that the idea of a wholesale distribución center was born.

“In addition to this, as we unlock the healthcare system, we need to streamline the system of accessing healthcare from the manufacturers to the market and then to the public” he stated.

“Without a coherent system, it would be very difficult for the genuine manufacturers to compete with the producers of these counterfeit and sub standard medicines not only in Nigeria but in the sub- region” he stated.

He therefore enjoined all legitimate pharmaceutical businesses previously operating in the open markets of the state to relocate to the new Wholesale Distribution Center where the drugs would be regulated in line with the provisions of the law.