LASG Shuts 37 Illegal Drug Stores

No fewer than 37 pharmaceutical outlets operating illegally were sealed off by the Lagos State Government over the weekend sealed as part of its measures to stem the tide of counterfeit and unwholesome drug products as well as avert the dangers posed by the activities of illegal operators.

Speaking after a recent raid in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Healthcare, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga disclosed that a total of 37 outlets out of 49 visited in Ikorodu Central, Agric, Agbede, Ita-Oluwo, Eyita, Odongunyan, Igbogbo, Itamaga and Ijede were sealed off for various offences ranging from engaging quacks, licensed patent medicine shops operating beyond their scope, illegal sale of ethical products and dispensing drugs to unsuspecting citizens of the state, illegal operatives of unregistered premises who displayed and stored drugs in an environment that is not conducive .

The raid was carried out in collaboration with the State Task force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods, representatives of National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Pharmacists’ Council of Nigeria, PCN, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Federal Task force and Officers of the State Rapid Respond Squad, RRS.

According to Onanuga, “The sealing of the pharmacies and patent medicine stores was in accordance with the provision 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 stated.

Onanuga who declared zero tolerance for fake drugs warned that the activities of the State Task Force on fake drugs will be sustained until operators in the sector adhere strictly to the provisions of the law on the operation of pharmacies and patent medicine stores.