Kenya has partnered with an American organisation to boost the country’s laboratory capacity.
A team of experts from United States Pharmacopeia (USP) are in the country to examine possibilities to enhance the existing laboratory testing capabilities and strengthen laboratory systems.
The team of technical experts met the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) CEO Dr Fred Siyoi.
“The meeting delved into Kenya's existing testing capacities while identifying areas that require support to achieve the World Health Organisation's Maturity Level 3 status,” PPB said in a statement.
“As part of their visit, the USP team conducted a thorough assessment of the PPB laboratory to gain a comprehensive understanding of its current capabilities,” it added.
Through their rigorous science and the public quality standards they set, USP helps protect patient safety and improve the health of people around the world.
Kenya is keen on strengthening PPB's regulatory system to attain WHO Maturity Level 3(ML3).
The maturity level 3 status means that the national agency has been found to function well and that it could be eligible for inclusion into the transitional WHO Listed Authorities, a list that will comprise the world's regulators of reference.
This status will increase our local Pharmaceutical growth enabling us to tap into the huge local pharmaceutical market.
The status will also increase our export opportunities and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
It will also ensure the availability of vaccines for the national vaccination programme as the country transition from Gavi support.
This is even as the country gears towards full implementation of Universal Health Coverage to ensure access to quality healthcare for all.
Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) are some of the regulatory bodies that have attained ML3.
PPB regulates the practice of pharmacy and the manufacture and trade of drugs and poisons.
The Board aims to implement the appropriate regulatory measures to achieve the highest standards of safety, efficacy and quality for all drugs, chemical substances and medical devices.
This includes locally manufactured, imported, exported, distributed, sold, or used, to ensure the protection of the consumer as envisaged by the laws regulating drugs in force in Kenya.
