Pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers have been instructed to halt the supply of medical products to patent medicine vendors in Niger Street and Sabon Gari Market, Kano State.
This directive follows a ruling from the Federal High Court on Friday, mandating the medicine dealers to immediately vacate Sabon Gari Market and relocate to the designated Wholesale Centre in Dangwauro, Kano State.
The Nigerian Association of Patent Proprietary Medicine Dealers had petitioned the court to halt their forced relocation from their established business premises in Sabon Gari. However, Justice Simon Amobeda dismissed the case, asserting that the plaintiffs lacked sufficient grounds to challenge the relocation enforced by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, the regulatory body overseeing their operations.
In a joint statement by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), the directive aimed to curb the distribution of substandard and counterfeit medicines within the state.
The statement cautioned manufacturers, importers, medical representatives, and distributors to immediately cease supplying pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other regulated products to establishments in Niger Street, Sabon Gari Market, or any different location outside the Coordinated Wholesale Centre in Dangwauro.
Furthermore, the statement warned that non-compliant companies risk losing their site and product licenses.
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