53 arrested, 140 illegal pharmacies shut in South Rift

Fifty-three people have been arrested and 140 illegal pharmacies closed during a crackdown in the South Rift region.

The joint routine inspection by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and other government agencies, including the Kenya Police Service, targeted drug distribution outlets. They include chemists, clinics, herbal medicine stores and cosmetic shops.

The crackdown was conducted in Nakuru, Kericho, Bomet, Samburu, Narok and Laikipia counties.

During the operation, 136 cartons of assorted medicines were found in the illegal premises. The seized medicines will be analysed and disposed of as per PPB guidelines on disposal of pharmaceuticals.

PPB Good Distribution Practice and Inspectorate head Julius Kaluai said closure notices and their details have been shared with other government administrative agencies.

“The PPB wishes to request the courts to enhance fines for those found guilty, in line with the fines in the amended Cap 244, to act as a deterrent,” Kaluai said.

"During the crackdown, PPB officials obtained invoices, receipts and other documents from the illegal premises that shall aid in identifying the licensed wholesalers of pharmaceuticals who are supplying illegal premises.” 

Owners of the wholesalers found to be doing so will be prosecuted and their licences revoked.

Those found operating illegal pharmacies were charged with carrying on the business of a pharmacist while not registered.  They were also charged with operating without the presence of a registered pharmacist.

“Of concern to PPB, a trend where licensed pharmacy outlets are left to be manned by unqualified persons was detected and a profiling on the same is being developed,” Kaluai said.

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

The board has stepped up its fight against substandard, falsely labelled and falsified drugs to protect consumers. It has an elaborate drug registration system that ensures that only safe, quality and efficacious products are registered.

The drugs are analysed by laboratories to ensure they comply with the label claims. 

Currently, the agency randomly collects samples from all over the country and analyses them at the National Quality Control Laboratory to test for quality, safety and efficacy.

A system reporting suspected poor-quality medicines and adverse drug reactions has also been established to monitor medicines.

“PPB wishes to notify both public and private healthcare facilities and those who handle pharmaceuticals that they should apply online for disposal of any pharmaceutical waste that they may have or get in touch with PPB regional officers.”

The PPB is the national medicines regulatory authority whose mandate is to protect the health of the public by regulating pharmacy and ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of medical products and health technologies.

Edited by A.N