The Lagos State Government’s task force on counterfeit, fake drugs, and unwholesome processed foods has shut down 19 medicine outlets in the Alimosho Local Government Area for failing to meet regulatory standards.
Prof Akin Abayomi, the state Commissioner for Health, announced this in a statement on Sunday, adding that the move was intended to reduce illegal drug sales and protect public health.
“The affected premises were sealed for a variety of offences, including the display of drugs for sale in unregistered and unlicensed shops; inappropriate drug storage conditions; unskilled drug handling and dispensing; and drug sales outside the approved scope,” he said.
“While the task force is propagating the war against fake drugs and illegal sales outlets, the monitoring and enforcement activities have been rejigged to ensure that the provisions of the law guiding the operation of pharmacies and patent medicine shops are observed to safeguard the health of the citizenry.”
The ministry’s Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Oyebisi Omolambe, said the state government will not relent in its efforts to stop the inherent dangers associated with the operations of unlicensed pharmaceutical outlets and drug shops.
Omolambe said, “This closure is thus part of the government’s renewed efforts to sanitise the drug distribution system and curb the proliferation of fake drugs in the state. The state government will not relent in its efforts to stop the inherent dangers associated with the operations of unlicensed pharmaceutical outlets and drug shops.”