Assessment of Herbal Medicine Regulatory Compliance Among Patent Medicine Vendors in Kaduna North, North West Nigeria

The proliferation of unregulated herbal medicinal products in patent medicine vendor (PMV) outlets across urban Nigeria poses significant risks to public health, particularly in North West cities such as Kaduna where consumer demand for affordable alternatives to orthodox drugs is high. This study assesses the level of regulatory compliance of herbal medicine sales practices among PMVs in Kaduna North local government area with reference to National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) guidelines. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire administered to 120 PMVs randomly selected from registered outlets. Compliance indicators assessed included product registration status, storage conditions, labelling accuracy, and evidence of staff training on herbal product safety. Forty-six percent of surveyed outlets stocked unregistered herbal products. Only 31% of outlets maintained appropriate storage temperatures for heat-sensitive herbal preparations. Labels on 52% of displayed products lacked adequate dosage or contraindication information. Formal training on herbal pharmacology had been received by only 22% of staff. Educational level, years in operation, and urban location were significantly associated with higher compliance scores. These findings reveal substantial regulatory gaps in Kaduna North's herbal medicine distribution network and recommend targeted regulatory enforcement, structured PMV training programmes, and enhanced NAFDAC market surveillance to safeguard consumers of herbal products in this densely populated city. Keywords: patent medicine vendors, herbal medicine, NAFDAC compliance, Kaduna, regulation