Pharmacy and Poisons Board raids illegal outlets in Nyanza region

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has closed down 84 pharmacies in a crackdown on illegal outlets in the Nyanza region.

The crackdown that has been ongoing since Monday last week has covered the counties of Kisumu, Nyamira, Kisii, Homabay, Migori and Siaya and targets pharmacy outlets that flout regulations.

The exercise has seen 137 cartons of assorted medicines seized and 80 people arrested and arraigned in court.

They have been charged with various offences, including being in possession of Part 1 poisons contrary to section 26(1) of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act and carrying on the business of a pharmacist while not registered as a pharmacist contrary to section 19(1a) of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act.

They were also charged with carrying the business of a pharmacist in unregistered premises  contrary to section 23(1) of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act.

According to the PPB Inspectorate and Enforcement deputy director Dr Dominic Kariuki, the crackdown was carried out to supplement the routine inspections that are carried out by the board's regional inspectors.

“Of major concern however is the absentee superintendents where licensed pharmacy outlets are left in the hands of unqualified persons hence putting the lives of Kenyans in danger,” Kariuki said.

“Those professionals who have been found engaging in these malpractices have been summoned for disciplinary action,” he added.

The board has cautioned members of the public to use health safety codes displayed in registered pharmacy outlets to verify legality of the premises by sending an SMS to 21031 free of charge.

“All pharmacy outlets with expired drugs have been directed to safely quarantine them and get in touch with the regional inspectors of Pharmacy and Poisons Board for safe disposal.”

The board has distributed minilabs to its regional offices for random sampling and testing of medicines to ensure that medicines in the Kenyan market are of good quality, safe and efficacious.

The agency has trained health workers and all the stakeholders to identify and report poor quality medicines using the PPB poor quality medicines reporting tools.

The PPB is the body mandated to ensure that all Kenyans access quality, safe and efficacious medicines.