By Danmaryam Zayamu
The Federal government has warned Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) and pharmacists against attempting to treat persons diagnosed as, or suspected to be Covid-19 patients.
It vowed to cancel the operating licence of any medicine vendor and pharmacist found to violate this warning.
The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, gave the warning at a media briefing in Abuja, on Wednesday.
He, however, advised private health facilities desirous of managing Covid-19 patients to apply to their State Ministries of Health.
Ehanire disclosed that this was the outcome of the emergency National Council of Health (NCH) meeting, via teleconference.
All the state Commissioners of Health and the Acting FCT Secretary for Health were represented.
“Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) and Pharmacists be forthwith prohibited from attempting to treat persons diagnosed as, or suspected to be COVID-19 patients, or else have their operating licenses cancelled.
“Private hospitals desiring to manage COVID-19 patients apply to their State Ministries of Health for permit, meet standard IPC standards and be accredited by a FMoH certified State team after compliance with Protocols, before being granted,” the minister stressed.
Ehanire further revealed that COVID-19 has a cure rate of over 90%, if those with the typical symptoms report early for testing and treatment or quarantine.
He, however, counselled those with existing medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, TB, HIV, cancer to take special care and obey the injunctions for preventing infection.
The Minister further said that a protocol for patient transport system has been developed for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), noting that it will soon be replicated in all states of the federation.
The protocol, he said, is meant to smoothly convey patients to specialized treatment centers or between treatment centers.
The Nigeria Airforce and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) “have aircraft on standby for us to move.”
