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Almost 400 Nigerian medical dispensaries shut down for sub-standard practice

pharmafile | October 28, 2019 | News story | Manufacturing and Production, Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing Nigeria, pharma 

Nigeria has seen almost 400 of its medicine dispensaries shut down over “unethical practices and lack of compliance, it has emerged.

A total of 387 establishments were forcibly closed in the country’s Benue State, corresponding to 44 pharmacies and 343 patent medicine shops. Further to this, an additional 16 businesses – made up of 13 patent and proprietary medicine vendors and three pharmacies – were issued with compliance directives.

Anthonia Aruya, Director, Inspection and Monitoring at the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, explained that the reasons for these closures were many, including unhygienic environments, inadequate record-keeping, sub-standard handling of controlled substances, and even dispensation of prescription drugs without the supervision of a qualified pharmacist.

“These practice areas include manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, retail, hospital, pharmacies and the patent and proprietary medicines vendors shops,” she said.

PCN has been present in Benue State as part of its commitment to “sanitise” the region’s pharmaceutical dispensary system, Aruya added, with an aim to streamline distribution of drug products while ensuring their quality, safety and efficacy. In the meantime, it has advised patients to be vigilant and ask for the registration status of the establishments where they pick up their medicines.

Matt Fellows

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