PCN: Nearly half of drug outlets in Cross River illegal

• Seals 505 premises, warns of fake drugs, antimicrobial resistance

From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, PCN, has declared a public health emergency in Cross River after discovering that nearly half of all medicine outlets in the state are operating illegally.

The Council said it sealed 505 pharmaceutical premises during a four-day enforcement exercise across 10 local government areas.

PCN Director of Enforcement, Dr Suleiman Chiroma, said inspectors visited 602 premises and found 48.3 per cent operating outside the law.

“Illegal premises constituted 48.3 per cent of facilities inspected and accounted for 57.8 per cent of all premises sealed,” Chiroma said.

Chiroma added that 54 pharmacies, 160 PPMV stores, and all 291 illegal outlets were shut.

The affected LGAs, he asserted, include Bekwara, Yakurr, Obubra, Ikom, Yala, Ogoja, Akamkpa, Odukpani, Calabar Municipal and Calabar South.

Chiroma said just 42.5 per cent of pharmacies and 26.8 per cent of PPMV stores met regulatory standards. 

He listed major violations to include operating without valid PCN licences, poor drug storage, unauthorized sale of controlled medicines, and illegal apprenticeship training.

“These practices encourage circulation of substandard, falsified and diverted medicines. It leads to treatment failure, antimicrobial resistance, avoidable deaths and increased healthcare costs”, she said.

The PCN Director added that uncontrolled access to regulated drugs could “fuel criminal activities through diversion into illegal channels, posing risks to national security.”

Chiroma urged residents to buy medicines only from PCN-licensed premises and to verify licences on display before purchase.

He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to sustained enforcement to protect the drug supply chain and support Universal Health Coverage through access to safe, quality-assured medicines.

The enforcement was carried out under the directive of PCN Registrar, Mr Ibrahim Ahmed, in line with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2022.