The National Drug Authority (NDA) has given all drug selling outlets in the country a 30-day ultimatum to erect signposts indicating the name and type of business carried out at the premises.
“You are hereby informed that it is a statutory requirement to have a signpost as per regulation 30 of the statutory instrument number 35 for licensing, which states that the premises, in respect to which a license is issued by the authority, shall have a conspicuous signpost indicating the name and type of business carried out at the premises,” an NDA statement read.
According to the statement released on February 25, 2023, the signposts have to indicate the type of drug outlet, whether drug shop or pharmacy, the type of drugs sold, whether human, veterinary, or both, and the nature of the business for pharmacies, whether retail or wholesale.
The NDA also revealed that the process of erecting the signpost starts immediately.
“This is therefore to instruct all drug outlets without signposts to erect them at their premises with immediate effect,” the statement read.
It also revealed that those with posts that have insufficient information about the type of business and nature of drugs sold should also advance as early as possible to avoid inconveniences from the enforcement teams.
“Drug outlets with signposts that do not fully describe the type of outlet and nature of business carried out should also rectify this anomaly,” the NDA said.
The NDA enforcement teams have today, February 27, 2023, started operations to enforce signposts among other issues, and anyone found lacking will be handled as the law requires.
According to the NDA, the enforcement of signposts and other issues intends to expose and eliminate some of the drug shops operating illegally in the country.