Man who Stole Drugs in Viral Video not Pharmacist- PCN

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The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has refuted the involvement of a pharmacist in a viral video circulating on social media, claiming that a pharmacist was caught in the act of stealing drugs from the pharmacy of a teaching hospital in Ile-Ife.

The viral video tagged “Monumental Robbery from a Teaching Hospital by a Pharmacist”, alleged that a pharmacist in lle-Ife stole some medicines from a teaching hospital and was selling them through his wife’s chemist.

Reacting to the video, the PCN Registrar, Pharm. Ahmed Babashehu said investigation conducted by the agency revealed that culprit portrayed in the viral video is not a pharmacist, but an assistant sales manager in a privately-owned pharmacy.

Babashehu further faulted the source of the video, saying it failed to mention the name of the teaching hospital where the medicines were stolen from.

He however disclosed that the agency has embarked on disciplinary action in sealing the unregistered facility of the culprit.

He said, “I am constrained to point out to the public that upon investigation, the allegation has been proven to be false and malicious, stating that no pharmacist was involved in the said criminal act as alleged, or at all.

“To set the record straight, the said act was proven to have been perpetrated by an assistant sales manager in a privately-owned pharmacy facility.

“The culprit established an illegal shop where the drugs stolen were being sold with the aid of his wife. The PCN has taken steps to SEAL the unregistered facility while the perpetrator would face prosecution.”

He drew the attention of the public to the reputable nature of the profession which is guided by an oath that is binding on all pharmacists in all their services, as any violation of the rule attracts sanctions by the agency.

“For emphasis, the Pharmacist’s Oath has one of the stanzas which states that as a Pharmacist: “I shall be guided in all dimensions of my life by the highest standards of human conduct and accordingly, will perform my services and duties with devotion, dignity, discretion and honour.

“Let it be noted that the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2022, like all the previous laws that established the pharmacy regulatory body in Nigeria, has provided for establishment of an Investigating Panel and Disciplinary Tribunal to ensure that any Pharmacist that is in breach of the Code of Ethics for the Pharmacy profession is appropriately tried and sanctioned.”