Govt seals 37 illegal patient medicine stores, pharmacies

The Lagos State Government on Sunday said it has sealed another 37 illegal patent medicine stores and pharmacies in Ikorodu area of the state.

Dr Olufemi Onanuga, the Special Adviser to Governor on Primary Health Care, said this while reviewing the report of recent raids by the State Task force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 30 illegal patent medicine stores and pharmacies were sealed in June at Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area.

Onanuga, who spoke on recent raids in Ikorodu local government area by the task force, said that 37 outlets out of 49 visited in the area had been sealed.

He listed some of them to include Ikorodu Central, Agric, Agbede, Ita-Oluwo, Eyita, Odongunyan, Igbogbo, Itamaga and Ijede were sealed off for various offences.

He said the pharmacies and patent medicine stores were sealed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter C34 of the Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act.

According to him, the task force carries out the raids in conjunction with the officials of National Agency for Food, Drug and Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and representatives of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

``The closure is part of the government’s renewed efforts aimed at ridding the state of fake, substandard and illegal drugs and outlets through streamlining of drug distribution system in the state.

``The LASG has reiterated its commitment to rid the state of fake drugs and illegal pharmaceutical outlets shops operating in the State to avert the danger posed by the illegal operators.

``The affected pharmacies and patent medicine stores were sealed off for offences ranging from engaging quacks, licensed patent medicine shops operating beyond their scope and dispensing drugs to unsuspecting citizens.

``Licensed patent medicine vendors are authorised 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.”

Onanuga said that an investigative meeting would be held on Thursday, Sept.8 at the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate Unit of the Ministry.

He said that the meeting would discuss the status of the sealed premises and also give room for the task force to meet with the owners of the sealed premises.

``It will also notify them of the procedures and appropriate conditions to be met for reopening and payment of administrative fee to the State government," the aide said.

Onanuga, however, expressed concern over the dangers posed by the activities of operators of illegal patent medicine stores and pharmacies in the state.