Dozens of pharmacies and drug outlets across Sierra Leone have been penalized following disciplinary hearings by the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, with 76 businesses found in violation of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act, 2021.
The hearings, held in Bo and Makeni on October 1st and 2nd, targeted outlets operating in Kenema, Bo, Mattru Jong, Makeni, Mile 91, Lunsar, Bamoi, Kambia, Port Loko, and Magburaka.
Those affected include both established pharmacies and smaller drugstores, many of which now face hefty fines and the risk of stricter sanctions if they fail to reform.
Common breaches included operating without licensed pharmacists, selling counterfeit or unregistered drugs, and stockpiling controlled substances outside authorized facilities. Each outlet was fined Le500, payable within 21 days, in line with Sections 12(1) and 12(4)(b) of the Act.
Pharmacy Board officials say the aim is not to cripple businesses but to push them into compliance.
“These violations are serious and put patients at risk,” warned Joe Freeman Esq., chair of the Disciplinary Committee. “If the same outlets reoffend under the revised law, they risk losing their licenses altogether.”
The crackdown has sent ripples through the pharmaceutical sector, with operators now under pressure to hire qualified staff, regularize their licenses, and clean up their supply chains. Some businesses are already scrambling to avoid repeat penalties, while others could face closure if they fail to meet the Board’s standards.
The Pharmacy Board emphasized that while the fines are part of routine enforcement, they are also a wake-up call to the sector: pharmacies and drugstores must meet regulatory requirements or risk being pushed out of business.
