16th February, 2018
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government has shut down 24 illegal pharmacies and chemist shops in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State in an effort to rid the State of fake drugs.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga disclosed this in his office at the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja shortly after the enforcement operation carried out by the State Task force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in conjunction with the representatives of National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharmacists’ Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Federal Taskforce and Officers of the State Rapid Respond Squad (RRS) in Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA, including Ajegunle, Olodi-Apapa, Old Ojo road and Amukoko.
Onanuga who stated that the operation was the first outing this year, confirmed that 24 out of the 27 premises visited were sealed off for various offences which included engagement of quacks, operating beyond scope by licensed patent medicine shops through the sale of ethical products and dispensing drugs to unsuspecting citizens of the state.
Other offences committed include the illegal operation of unregistered premises and displaying items and storing drugs in unconducive environments.
He lamented that though some of the stores visited were registered but that they failed to engage qualified medical personnel to attend to people.
“This is unacceptable, we as a government will do the needful in terms of enforcing the law and sanctioning erring operators,” he remarked.
Onanuga explained that the sealing of the pharmacies and patent medicine stores was in accordance with the provision of Chapter C34 of the Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provision) Act of 1999, Number 25.
“Licensed patent medicine vendors are authorized to sell only drug products in their original packs in approved pack size as produced by the manufacturing companies. The law prohibits dispensing and wholesaling of drugs by patent medicine vendors,” he said.
He warned that the activities of the State Task Force on fake drugs would not only be sustained but intensified until operators in the sector adhered strictly to the provisions of the law on the operation of pharmacies and patent medicine stores, in order to safeguard the health and well-being of the citizenry.
The Special Adviser revealed that an investigative meeting would be held on Tuesday, 20th February 2018 at the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate Unit of the Ministry where members of the Task Force would meet with the owners of the sealed premises to make further inquiries on the status of the sealed premises and to notify them of the procedures and appropriate conditions to be met for reopening in line with regulations, and payment of administrative fee to the state government.