The sealed shops including: Shessy Patient Medicine located at Hospital Road Akure, TOKs Leve Patient Medicine at Ijomu Street, Akure and Motunrayo Stores along Ado-Owo Road in Akure.
The Ondo State, the State Joint Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods has sealed up three pharmaceutical shops in Akure, the state capital for selling fake drugs to the people.
The sealed shops including: Shessy Patient Medicine located at Hospital Road Akure, TOKs Leve Patient Medicine at Ijomu Street, Akure and Motunrayo Stores along Ado-Owo Road in Akure.
The Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Taye Oni, who disclosed this to journalists on Saturday said the action of the task force was part of the efforts of the current administration of Rotimi Akeredolu to make the state free of counterfeit drugs.
He said the government would ensure that the state was inhabitable for those dealing in harmful drugs, declaring that the state would not be used as dumping ground for drugs inimical to the wellbeing of the people of the state.
The PS said the task force found the control and fake drugs in the shops that were axed and thereby contravening the rules governing the practice of patient medicine and pharmaceutical stores in the state.
Oni said, "Some of those premises sealed off include Shessy Patient Medicine at Hospital road Akure where dangerous and controlled drugs such as flunitrazepalm (Swinol), Misoprostol tablets without NAFDAC number, Analgin (banned over 10 years ago) and 200mg Tramadol, dangerous to the health were stored in an inconducive environment were found.
“TOKs Leve Patient Medicine store was also sealed for flaunting the rules of operation and possession of harmful drugs.”
He declared that the perpetrators would be prosecuted.
Also speaking, the chairman of the task force, Pharm. Gbenga Lasekan blamed the infiltration of dangerous drugs without manufacturers name and address into the Nigerian markets on porosity of the boarders but promised that culprits who will be brought to book.
He however noted that the task force had achieved so much since its inauguration as the fear of it has reduced to the bearest minimum incidence of fake and adulterated drugs in the state.
Gbenga Lasekan who reiterated the commitment of the government to safeguard the health of the people of the state, advising the residents to always buy drugs from registered premises, check for NAFDAC number of the drugs and where there is need for clarification, consult a registered pharmacist.
