Drama, as Police withdraw escorts from PCN enforcement team in Kaduna
Drama, as Police withdraw escorts from PCN enforcement team in Kaduna
By Godwin Ekosin, Kaduna
There was mild-drama yesterday in Kaduna as Police allegedly frustrated enforcement efforts of the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) who were in Kaduna on a raid of pharmacy and Patent medicine stores operating illegally.
It was gathered that drama started when police authority allegedly withdrew their men who were initially drafted to provide security cover for the PCN team, shortly after the team sealed a popular Dialogue Pharmacy and store over illegal premises.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the withdrawal of the policemen, Deputy Director and Head of enforcement of PCN, Pharmacist Stephen Esumobi, said, they have observed in Kaduna that many premises commenced operations without fulfilling minimum requirements.
He said, any premises that has not been recommended for the sale of medicines, the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines sourced from them cannot be guaranteed.
Esumobi stressed that if the trend is allowed to continue, it will impact negatively on the health of the citizens of the state, adding that “the exercise is part of efforts to reserve this ugly situation, unfortunately the exercise was stopped mid way because the police officers attached to the team by the Kaduna State police command were withdrawn.
“We applied to the Kaduna police command for faalicity inspection in the state and we got clearance to carry out the operations and when we came, we were attached with four police men only for them to be withdrawn shortly after we sealed the Dialogue Pharmacy and stores.
We were even ordered to return the confiscated drugs which we declined.
“The PCN is using this medium to sensitize all stakeholders to follow the laws that regulate the practice of Pharmacy in Nigeria as the Federal government will not tolerate the indiscriminate sale of drugs without submission to regulatory control.
“Furthermore, the public is advised to purchase their medicines from licenced patent and pharmacies and simple household remedies from licensed Patent and Propriety medicines vendor shop.”
When contacted, Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Abubakar Zubairu denied knowledge of the incident, he however assured that he will make enquiry and get back which he never did as at press time.
Posted from GoBroadsheet