Court jails illegal drug operators, PSN raises alarm over fake medicines

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has hailed recent court convictions of illegal pharmaceutical operators, describing the judgments as a major boost in the fight against fake drugs and unlicensed drug outlets across the country.

Pharmacist. Ayuba Ibrahim Tanko, PSN president commended the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) for sustaining enforcement actions against illegal drug operators, despite growing challenges in the pharmaceutical sector.

According to the society, the federal high court in Ibadan convicted and sentenced an unregistered patent medicine vendor, while the Federal High Court in Calabar jailed an operator of an unregistered pharmacy and three accomplices for running an illegal pharmaceutical facility and engaging unqualified personnel to dispense drugs.

Tanko described the rulings as historic, saying they strengthen pharmacy jurisprudence and send a strong warning to operators of unlicensed pharmaceutical premises nationwide.

He warned that many illegal drug vendors falsely claim medical training and continue to endanger public health through unlawful drug dispensing practices.

The PSN president also alleged widespread regulatory violations in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, accusing certain groups of illegally assuming powers reserved for the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.

Tanko expressed concern over the growing number of illegal pharmaceutical outlets, claiming that while fewer than 50,000 pharmaceutical premises are officially registered in Nigeria, unregistered drug outlets are estimated to exceed three million nationwide.

The society stressed that drug regulation remains a federal responsibility because of its importance to national health security and insisted that all pharmaceutical premises, including hospital pharmacies, must operate under the supervision of qualified pharmacists.

PSN further urged the National Assembly to amend the Fake Drug Act to introduce tougher penalties for offenders, insisting that stronger regulation and enforcement are necessary to curb the circulation of fake medicines and protect public health.