FG gazettes PCN law which would regulate all stakeholders in pharmacy distribution chain

A new pharmacy law which empowers the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) to regulate all stakeholders in the pharmacy distribution chain has been gazetted by the Nigerian government.

This was disclosed by chairman of the governing council of the organization, Prof. Ahmed Tijjani Mora, during the presentation of the gazetted PCN (Establishment) Act 2022 in Abuja on Monday October 10.

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Bill which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in August, empowers the registrar to revoke licenses and regulate all stakeholders involved in the pharmacy distribution chain such as pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, patent medicine vendors, manufacturers, importers, wholesalers among others.

Fines for offences in the old act ranged from N250- N1,000 but had been increased to between N250,000 and N2,000,000 in the new act.

The Federal High Court under the new law has the jurisdiction to hear and determine criminal and civil matters.

Mora said;

“The fines are meant to act as a deterrent for people not to fall short of the minimum standard expected from them.  The council is a regulatory agency. We are not a profit-making organisation and we are corrective, not punitive. We are dealing with drugs, which makes the difference between life and death. That is why we must be regulated.”