The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, PCN has relocated wholesalers of pharmaceutical drugs to the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) from Sabon Gari market, Kano. within two weeks
The nitice was issued by the council through the Registrar, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed over the weekend in while briefing newsmen in Kano, warning that whoever failed to relocate after the stipulated period given would have himself or herself to be blame.
“With the commissioning of the CWC in Kano today, the sale of medicine in Sabongari market and clustered plazas across Kano state will no longer be tolerated, he said.
“He explained that “It is a known fact that the chaotic drug distribution system has been a major factor affecting the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines and contribute largely to the menace of drug abuse and misuse in Nigeria”.
The Registrar maintained that “The open drug markets across the country, unfortunately have contributed to this challenges on the following ways: Poor storage facilities which expose the medicines to harsh environment factors, like high temperatures and humidity negatively on their quality, safety and efficacy”
Others negative factors listed by the PCN boss are sale of ethical product without the supervision of a pharmacist thus exposing the public to the dangers of wrong use of medicines, Illegal sale of substances of abuse to the public resulting in social and security problems”
He disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) consulted widely with stakeholders in the pharmaceutical sector and medicine dealers in open drug markets nationwide and at the end, it was agreed that they (Medicine Dealers )will all move to Co-ordinated Wholesale Centre on before December 31st 2018.”
Ahmed revealed that “This deadline was later extended to December 31st, 2019 with directive that all open drug market shall cease to operate with effect from January 1st, 2020.
