Osun Governor warns newly licenced patent medicine vendors against abuse of privilege

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has urged newly licensed Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) in the state to strictly adhere to regulations and avoid selling unauthorized products.

Speaking through the Commissioner for Health, Barr. Jola Akintola—who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Isiaka Adekunle—at an Orientation Program organized by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) in collaboration with the Osun State PPMVL Committee, Governor Adeleke emphasized that the license granted to the vendors should not be misused. 

The event which took place at the Local Government Service Commission Hall, Osogbo afforded the governor an opportunity to encourage the vendors to stay within the scope of their license and continue participating in trainings to improve their knowledge and practice.

Earlier in his address, the State Chairman of the PPMVL Committee and Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Pharmacist Rasak Saliu, noted that the role of the committee is to regulate and guide the practice of PPMVs, not to eradicate them. He cautioned that ignorance of the law would not be accepted as an excuse and stressed the need for strict compliance with regulations after completing the mandatory nine-session training.

The Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Pharmacist Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed—represented by Pharmacist Johnson Kayode Atere—reaffirmed the PCN’s commitment to ensuring public health through sustainable Pharmaceutical regulatory services. He explained that the Committee is tasked with inspecting PPMV shops, monitoring their operations, interviewing and recommending qualified applicants for licensing, and organizing continuing education programs. He added that defaulters would face sanctions in line with existing laws.

In their separate goodwill messages, the President of the Nigeria Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED), Mr. Johnson Arawande and the President of the Independent Patent Medicine Dealers Association (IPMDA), Mr. Suleiman Azeez, commended the committee for its continuous education efforts. They urged members to keep their licenses up to date and maintain hygienic business premises.

The event also featured presentation certificates to the participants and lectures from key stakeholders, including State Chairman of the PPMVL Committee, Pharmacist Rasak Saliu, Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Osun State, Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Director of Pharmaceutical Services Hospitals Management Board, representatives of the Registrar Pharmacy council of Nigeria, NDLEA and NAFDAC, alongside Pharmacist Oluwatimilehin Olaniyan, who all reiterated the importance of safe and legal medicine vending practices.