Are You Buying Your Medicine from the Right Place?

 

By Okechukwu Onuegbu 

As already explained in our previous discussions, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) members are professionals empowered to help you manage your health and maintain a healthy life. Do not jeopardize your life or future for any reason.

1. Community Pharmacists vs. Roadside Vendors
Do not mistake ACPN members for roadside drug vendors, mobile drug hawkers, and others who may be engaging in illegal activities. Indiscriminate exposure of drugs and poor storage conditions pose significant dangers to your health.

2. The Truth About Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs
Several laws in Nigeria prohibit the sale of drugs like antibiotics without a valid prescription and mandate professional regulation and monitoring. These include:
• The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act: Prohibits the sale of prescription-only medicines like antibiotics without a valid prescription.
• The Poison and Pharmacy Act Cap 535 LFN 1990: Provides the legal framework for the control, sale, and administration of poisons and pharmaceutical substances, including antibiotics.
• The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap 30 LFN 2004: Provides penalties for the illegal sale and distribution of prescription and controlled drugs, including antibiotics.
• NAFDAC's Controlled Medicines Regulations 2019: Specifies procedures for securing and controlling controlled medicines to prevent unauthorized sales.
• Nigeria's National Drug Policy and National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance: Promotes the rational use of antibiotics and the enforcement of prescription regulations.

3. Understanding Patent Medicine Dealers (PPMVs)
Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) are licensed to sell only patent and proprietary medicines that are pre-packaged and classified as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. These drugs are generally deemed safe for self-medication.

4. What PPMVs are Prohibited from Selling
PPMVs are explicitly prohibited from repackaging medicines, selling prescription-only medicines (such as antibiotics), or conducting invasive medical procedures (e.g., malaria rapid diagnostic testing). They must sell medicines in their original containers and comply with licensing guidelines under the Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors Licence (PPMVL).
Therefore, when you visit a medicine shop, try to understand the scope of their services. By demanding products beyond their legal scope, you could be putting both them and yourself in danger, which may even cost you your life.

5. The Authority of a Community Pharmacist
Community pharmacists are registered professionals who have the legal authority to own or operate a retail or community pharmacy. They can dispense both prescription and OTC medicines. They also provide comprehensive pharmaceutical care, including:
• Medication counseling, Compounding, Health promotion, Immunization services and Chronic disease management. They are registered and licensed by the PCN, adhere to Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) standards, and participate in continuous professional development.

6. The Importance of Licensed Pharmacists
Any infringement, such as selling prescription drugs or operating without a license, can lead to fines, imprisonment, and shop closure by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN). The PCN strictly regulates who qualifies to practice and enforces sanctions for breaches of practice guidelines.
• Corporate bodies operating pharmacies must therefore have registered pharmacists as key officers. If you visit a pharmacy and find that a registered pharmacist is not present, you should go to another, fully-staffed location. These regulations are governed by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2022.

7. Key Differences: Training and Scope
In summary, community pharmacists have formal education and a wider scope of practice, including the sale of prescription drugs and the provision of pharmaceutical care. In contrast, patent medicine dealers have limited, often non-formal, apprenticeship training and are licensed only to sell over-the-counter medicines. They function primarily as basic medicine vendors, especially in underserved areas.
Therefore, for your well-being and effective health management, seek out and engage with members of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN).

Onuegbu is a public relations specialist and health reporter