By Abujah Racheal

The new Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act has conferred powers on the Registrar of the council to suspend, revoke, withdraw or cancel practice licences for pharmacists.

It also stated that the Federal High Court had jurisdiction to hear and determine criminal and civil matters under it. On offences and penalties, the new law provides fines for offences ranging from N250,000 – N2,000,000 as against a paltry fine for offences ranging from N250- N1000 in the previous law.

According to a statement by Chairman of the Governing Board of the PCN, Prof. Ahmed Mora, the new Act also extended the tenure of the chairman of the Council to four years.

Mora commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Bill into law.

The Bill establishing the PCN was signed into law by the President in August.

The new Act has also extended the experience requirement for appointment as chairman and members of the Board to, not less than 25 years post-registration.

According to Mora, the law also stipulates experience of not less than 10 years for nominees of the board from the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“In the new law, eight members are to represent the geopolitical zones of the federation.

“The law has empowered the council to appoint directly or on secondment from other government departments, such number and category of employees as it may require in the effective discharge of its duties.

“It provides expanded powers and functions of the Council to inspect, approve, licence and regulate the registration and practice of pharmacy S.4,” he said.

Mora said that the new law also included all stakeholders- Pharmacists, Pharmacy technicians, and patent medicine vendors in the pharmacy distribution chain.

Mora said, ”it had been a long journey in the enactment of instruments that regulate and control pharmacy education, training and practice since 1927 with the Board of Medical Examiners.

“In 1936, the Pharmacy Board of Nigeria was established and in 1964, the Pharmacists Board of Nigeria (PBN). In 1992, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) was established.

“It pleases Almighty God that it is Buhari that will be making history by signing into law the Bill establishing the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria in 2022.

“We are grateful to Senator Ahmed Lawal, the President of the Senate, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila and all the legislators that worked so hard to ensure that the bill passed through,” he said.

Pharmacy practice in Nigeria is regulated by the PCN.

PCN is a Federal Government parastatal charged with the responsibility of regulating and controlling Pharmacy Education, Training and Practice in all aspects and ramifications.

It is responsible for the registration and licensure of all Pharmacists, Pharmaceutical premises, as well as the issuance of permits to pharmacy technicians and registration and licensure of patent and proprietary medicine vendors.

(NAN)