The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) says it has started licensing individuals and facilities selling medicines via social media and other online platforms.
The council said the move is part of a drive to regulate the booming internet-based drug market.
The Registrar/ Chief Executive Officer of PCN, Ibrahim Ahmed, made the announcement in Abuja.
He noted that online drug sales surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and have continued to grow.
Ahmed who made the announcement on Wednesday explained that the PCN Establishment Act 2022 anticipated the rise of e-pharmacy practices and included provisions to regulate them.
He confirmed that licensing has already begun for platforms engaged in online medicine sales, supported by enforcement measures designed for the borderless nature of digital trade.
According to him, many online vendors operate without physical premises and beyond national boundaries, prompting the council to partner with Interpol.
This collaboration allows the PCN to shut down illegal drug sales websites in 194 countries.
One such platform has already been taken down.
The PCN boss also stressed the importance of IT expertise during inspections.
He noted that the backend of a website must be supervised by a licensed pharmacist before a licence is granted, as it may differ significantly from the public-facing side.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said her agency’s work complements that of the PCN.
She recalled that NAFDAC began licensing online vendors two years ago and shared an incident from 18 months ago when a falsified anti-cancer drug sold online was traced to southern Nigeria, leading to an arrest.
Adeyeye added that in September, NAFDAC will train staff on using new technology to track and trace internet-based drug sales.
Source – BarristerNG
(vitalnewsngr.com)
