No fewer than 21 Pharmacies, Patent Medicine shops and unlicensed premises were shut by the Lagos State Taskforce on Counterfeit Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods for offences bordering on illegal operations and operating beyond the scope of practice.
The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this today while reviewing the report of the enforcement exercise carried out by the Task Force.
He stated that the sealing of the affected pharmacies and patent medicine stores were in accordance with the provisions of Section C34 of the Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Miscellaneous Provision Act of 1999.
Abayomi explained that the premises were sealed for operating without a licence, engaging unqualified persons to man and dispense drugs to unsuspecting citizens, operating beyond scope through sale of ethical products, storing drugs in unconducive environments, amongst others.
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He noted that such practices are unacceptable and vowed that the State Government will do whatever is necessary to enforce the law and sanction erring operators.
The Commissioner noted that the State Government remains committed to putting a halt to the ugly trend of having unqualified personnel deal with pharmaceutical products.
Prof. Abayomi maintained that the government will continue to insist on a suitable environment for the dispensation of medical care to promote and maintain good health.
Acting Director, Pharmaceutical Services, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Mosunmola Olufumilola Backley, said that the State Government will not relent in its efforts to stop the inherent dangers associated with the operations from unlicensed pharmaceutical outlets.
She disclosed that the Task Force, through the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate Unit (PIU) of the Pharmaceutical Services Directorate, has been energised to intensify the ongoing war against fake, expired and substandard drugs being peddled by unlicensed and illegal premises.