The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) on Friday said it was introducing Product tracking systems as well as increased surveillance operations across all registered pharmacies in Nigeria, following indiscriminate sale and abuse of drugs with codeine. The Registrar of the Council, Mr. Elijah Mohammed stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
He explained that the essence was to tackle the menace of quacks and challenges of drug abuse. He stressed that the safety concerns around the use and misuse of codeine is assuming a frightening dimension in some parts of the country, hence the need for the new measures to assist in the enforcement of the recent ban by the Ministry of Health.
“The measure to be adopted will also involve the design of pharmacy screening, monitoring and surveillance and how those addicted can get assistance with the various rehabilitation centres across the country.
“PCN will also strengthen the inventory and product tracking systems at all levels of practice both in public and private sectors as well strengthen the use of electronic and paper documentations of controlled drugs with the use of Form K after dispensing in public and private sectors.’’
Recall that the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole had earlier banned the production, importation of codeine containing syrup. He further directed PCN and NAFDAC to supervise the recall for labeling and audit trailing of all codeine containing cough syrups nationwide and as well banned the sale of codeine containing cough syrup without prescription.
"The directive became necessary due to the gross abuse of codeine in the country. In this regard, I directed PCN to continue enforcement activities on pharmacies, patent and proprietary medicine vendors’ shops and outlets throughout the country and NAFDAC should as well carry out its functions in compliance with the new directives.
“Cough syrups containing codeine should be replaced with dextromethorphan which is less addictive. Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant used to treat cough, it is also a drug of the morphinan class with sedative, dissociative, and stimulant properties,’’ Adewole added.
