Lagos shuts 34 medicine outlets for selling expired drugs, others

The Lagos State Government has shut 34 medicine outlets in the state for non-compliance with regulatory standards, including the sale of expired drugs.

The affected outlets are at Shomolu, Bariga, Gbagada, and Ifako areas of Shomolu and Kosofe Local Government Areas as well as Bale and Savage streets in Orile Iganmu Local Council Development Area of the state, according to a statement on Friday.

Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who was quoted as disclosing this after reviewing the report of the recent monitoring, inspection, and enforcement exercises carried out by the Lagos State Taskforce on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Food, explained that the affected outlets were shut for contravening regulations guiding the operations of sale of medicines in the State.

“The sealing of the affected medicine outlets was in accordance with the provisions of Section C34 of the Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods Miscellaneous Provision Act of 1999,” he noted.

Abayomi explained further that the affected premises were sealed for offences including “inappropriate storage conditions of drugs, having unskilled persons handling and dispensing drugs, sale of drugs by illegal shop owners, stocking of expired drugs, and sale in market places”.

While noting that the sale of medicines is only allowed in registered and licensed outlets, Abayomi said patent medicine vendors are authorized to sell drug products only in their original and approved pack size as produced by the manufacturing companies.

He added that the law prohibits patent medicine vendors and licensed pharmaceutical premises from operating beyond their scope.

According to him, the recent operation was a follow-up to the rejigged enforcement exercise by the taskforce to sanitize the drug distribution chain in Lagos State.

“The Task Force enforcement activities in Shomolu and Bariga LGA was a follow up to previous enforcement exercise conducted in the areas in October which is aimed at compliance

“The revisit revealed a significant success in the war against fake drugs and illegal drug shop in lagos as 16 shops earlier sealed were met evacuated and are no longer involved in the illegal sale of drugs.

“The November enforcement exercise at Savage and Bale streets in Orile-Iganmu LCDA was to prevent clustering of drug outlets which are a haven for fake drugs. It is worthy to mention that 13 out of 14 outlets visited were sealed, one of the sealed premises was found to be stocking expired drugs which are hazardous to the health of the State Citizenry,” he explained.

(The PUNCH)