- The Kenya Drug Authority Bill, 2022 (KDA 2022) bill which is sponsored by MP Robert Pukose underwent its first reading on November 9, 2022.
- It is designed to stabilise the regulatory framework in the manufacturing and distribution of health-made products and technologies in the country
Image: FILE
The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) has called on the government to swiftly address the various issues ailing the health sector.
PSK in a statement on Tuesday said the dire state of Kenya's healthcare system which includes the ongoing doctors’ strike should be addressed with urgency to make the attainment of Universal Health Coverage a reality.
PSK president Louis Machogu said the demands by the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) are justified.
“The failure to address these reasonable concerns not only undermines the morale of medical professionals but also directly impacts patient care across the nation,” Machogu said.
PSK has further condemned the recent statement by the Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome, in which he said the demonstrations by doctors were instituting a public nuisance.
Machogu said the statement by Koome blatantly undermines the constitutionally protected right to peaceful assembly and demonstration Under Article 37 of Kenya's 2010 Constitution.
“Such disregard for fundamental human rights not only jeopardizes the safety of healthcare workers but also threatens the well-being of all Kenyan citizens,” he said.
Machogu has noted that the exit of Moderna withdrawal is not only a setback but highlights the significant shortcomings in the country’s regulatory oversight.
He said Kenya’s inability to achieve ML3 status not only limits the competitiveness in global vaccine markets but also underscores the significant obstacles hindering our capability to develop crucial medications for diseases spanning from cancer to diabetes.
Boston-based vaccines manufacturer Moderna announced it has “paused” its plans to build a $200 million (Sh26 billion) mRNA vaccine plant in Kenya, despite the government giving it tax breaks.
Moderna said demand in Africa for COVID-19 vaccines has declined since the pandemic and is insufficient to support the viability of the factory planned in Kenya.
Pharmacists are now calling on the government to expedite the passage of critical healthcare legislation such as the Kenya Drug Authority (KDA) and Pharmacy Practice Bills.
They said the delay in passing the bills hampers the country’s ability to secure essential medications and vaccines and undermines the President's UHC agenda.
“We demand immediate action from the government: the swift passage of the KDA and Pharmacy Practice Bills, catapulting Kenya to ML3 status alongside our African counterparts in Tanzania, Egypt, South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria,” Machogu said.
Unlike ML2 which allows the country to manufacture health products only for local use, ML3 allows the manufactured products to be exported to other regional and international markets.
“Failure to act decisively not only condemns our nation to perpetual suffering but also signifies a profound dereliction of duty by those entrusted with safeguarding the health and well-being of all Kenyans.”
The Kenya Drug Authority Bill, 2022 (KDA 2022) bill which is sponsored by MP Robert Pukose underwent its first reading on November 9, 2022.
It is designed to stabilise the regulatory framework in the manufacturing and distribution of health-made products and technologies in the country.