Patent Medicine Vendors, Informal Drug Distribution, and Regulatory Gaps in Selected Communities in South–South Nigeria

Abstract

Informal drug distribution remains a significant feature of healthcare delivery in Nigeria, particularly through the activities of patent medicine vendors (PMVs). This study examined patterns of prescription medicine sales, factors sustaining public patronage, and regulatory gaps associated with PMVs in selected communities in South-South Nigeria. A qualitative research design was adopted, involving in-depth interviews with 34 participants comprising patent medicine vendors and adult customers in Ikot Ekpene, Port Harcourt, and Calabar. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed that the sale of prescription medicines without medical supervision has become normalised within everyday healthcare practices, sustained by trust, familiarity, economic considerations, and convenience. The study further found that weak regulatory oversight, characterised by inconsistent enforcement and low public awareness of pharmaceutical regulations, enables the persistence of informal drug distribution. Guided by the Social Ecological Model, the study demonstrates how individual behaviour, community norms, and institutional weaknesses interact to sustain informal pharmaceutical practices. It contributes to medical sociology by situating informal drug distribution within everyday health-seeking realities rather than isolated regulatory failure.