PCN Orientates Newly Licensed Medicine Vendors In Kwara

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

Ilorin: The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) on Wednesday in Ilorin, organised orientation and Continuous Education Programme (CEP) for newly licensed patent and proprietary medicine dealers in Kwara.

Speaking at the programme, Mr. Babashehu Ahmed, the Registrar of the PCN, explained that programme is a guideline for the issuance of Patent and Proprietary Medicines Vendors Licence (PPMVL).

According to him, the holder shall be required to attend an orientation programme (CEP), at least once, every two years.

The registrar who was represented by Mr Bayode Emmanuel, the Deputy Director, North Central Zonal Office, Minna, said that it is the responsibility of every newly licensed private propriety Medicine Vendor (PPMV) to participate in the orientation programme.

“The orientation are adult learning programmes in which participants are encouraged to be involved in the learning process,” he said.

He tasks medicine vendors to operate within the provisions of the guidelines as well as the PCN’s approved patent medicine lists.

Ahmed observed that National Surveys in Nigeria show that Community Pharmacies and PPMVs are usually the first porte of call for health seeking individuala in the rural, undeserved and hard to reach communities.

He added that the Federal Ministry of Health in a bid to ensure equitable distribution of quality healthcare, has targeted the medicine vendors so as to expensive their roles in primary health care.

Speaking also, Dr Abubakar Ayinla, the Permanent Secretary of the Kwara Ministry of Health, stated that the programme is to ensure all patent medicine vendors have met all requirement of getting license to practice that aspect of the profession.

He described patent medicine vendors as group of people that are readily available and close to the communities, whom people utilise by buying medical consumables that are permitted to sell.

Ayinla emphasised the importance of compliance, rules and regulations, standard practice and ethics for vendors to uphold.

“We encourage them to learn, so that they will be able to apply their own learning to the evolving changes that we are seeing in the society, ” he said.

Mrs Barakat Olarewaju, the Director Pharmaceutical Services, Kwara State Ministry of Health advised the medicine vendors to uphold the laws as approved by PCN.

According to her, vendors must sell only drugs on PCN approved Patent and Proprietary Medicine List.

The pharmacist warned the vendors against prescribing or dispensing medicines, adding that all medicines to be stocked by the vendors must be purchased from premises registered by PCN.

Alhaji Abdulraheem Lawal, the President of Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealer (NAPPMED), Kwara chapter explained that the association ensures that members comply with laid down rules guiding their profession.

The president who was represented by Mr Adeyemi Musbaudeen, the vice chairman of the association added that the association has sets up task force to monitor activities of member.

He explained further that there is monthly inspection of vendors across Kwara, to ensure rules are followed and where members are found wanting, punitive measures will be metted on defaulters. (NAN)
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