Stop Patronizing Unregistered Drug Stores, Expert Warns Nigerians

An Abuja-based Neurosurgeon, Dr. Biodun Ogungbo, has advised Nigerians against patronizing unregistered patent medicine stores to avoid health complications.

He stated this in an interview with Newsmen in Abuja.

“What is needed is proper reorientation and health education of the public on the dangers associated with the patronage of such places because health is wealth.

“The eventual cost of managing the complications of diseases `bought’ from these chemists outweighs the cost of proper treatment in recognized hospitals and accredited health care facilities,” he said.

Ogungbo said injection abscesses were common from chemists and patent medicine stores.

He alleged that fake manufacturers often colluded with owners of the patent medicine stores in the sale of fake drugs.

He, however, called on the government and citizens to identify the dangers posed to the health of the nation by so-called patent medicine stores and local chemists and prevent them.

He said the shops were usually stocked with any drug and none was sacred to them, saying even though unqualified, the chemist boys or girls diagnose and treat customers.

According to him, they proclaim to know everything, every drug and are ever ready to ‘help’.

“This help offered at a price can, however, be suicidal, yet their customers range through the social and educational levels of the public,’’ he said.

He said drugs with similar names were traded off for one another, adding that such drugs in most cases had different chemical compositions and were prepared for different diseases.

He, however, advised the pharmaceutical board and local government officials to ensure that only registered pharmacists owned and managed chemists and dispensaries.