The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has begun developing guidelines to regulate the activities of pharmaceutical sales representatives in the country.
This is to ensure that pharmaceutical sales representatives are qualified to perform their tasks and act ethically in promoting medicines and other health products and technologies to healthcare professionals.
The Director of Pharmacy Practice at PPB Dr Wilfred Ochieng said it is crucial to establish guidelines that govern the qualifications, standards of practice and activities of pharmaceutical sales representatives as the pharmaceutical industry continues to grow in Kenya.
This, he said, will also ensure the promotion of medicines in Kenya is done within the legal framework and that the information shared with healthcare workers remains factual, evidence-based and not misleading.
“The new “Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives in Kenya” aim to define the role of pharmaceutical representatives in promoting health products and technologies and ensure optimal outcomes for consumers/patients,” Ochieng said.
The director emphasized the importance of ensuring that pharmaceutical sales representatives have the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience and adhere to ethical standards to promote the safe and effective use of health products and technologies.
“The PPB has called on stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry to participate in the development of the guidelines to ensure that they are comprehensive and effective in regulating the activities of pharmaceutical sales representatives,” he said.
The new guidelines are expected to be finalized soon and will provide a framework for the training, recruitment and regulation of pharmaceutical sales representatives in Kenya.
This will ultimately enhance consumer confidence in the pharmaceutical industry.
The PPB is a national drug regulatory authority under the Ministry of Health mandated to regulate the practice of pharmacy and ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of medical products and health technologies.
