The Kwara State government on Tuesday closed down six patent medicine stores for dispensing fake and counterfeit drugs in Offaand Ijagbo areas of Oyun local government area of the state.

The order came from the chairman, Kwara State Assembly committee on fake and counterfeit drugs,  Risikat Lawal, after the committee visited some patent medicine stores in the state.

Those affected are: Havila Pharmaceutical Services, Ijagbo;Alayande Medicine Stores, Ijagbo;  Ola-Iya Stores, Offa; FemtoMedicine Stores, Offa; OloBola Medicine Stores, Offa; and JossyPatent Medicine Stores also in Offa.

The committee chairman said some of the offences committed by the sealed stores range from non registration, selling of regulated drugs such as anti-biotics, anti-hypertensive and treatment of patients.

She said owners of any medicine store found stocking fake and counterfeit drugs would be liable to half a million naira fine or imprisonment for two years or both.

“Patent medicine shops should desist from selling ethical drugs likeAmpiclox capsules, procaine and penicillin injections with other controlled drugs,” Lawal said.

She also advised patent medicine stores in the state to register and renew their licences with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria through the state ministry of health.