Poisons Board banks on MPs to address staffing, funding gaps

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health has pledged to resolve key issues affecting the pharmaceutical sector.

This is after the committee led by its chairperson and Endebess MP Robert Pukose conducted a fact-finding mission to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) offices on Monday.

Key among the issues is the recruitment of more staff to bridge existing gaps and adequate budgetary allocation to the regulator.

Other issues of concern include boosting PPB's authority through the swift establishment of the Kenya Drug Authority and improved clinical trials.

Present during the meeting were PPB board chairperson Charles Githinji, CEO Fred Siyoi, board members and other senior management officials.

“We have challenges and require more manpower, especially at the ports of entry and inspectorate to effectively discharge our mandate,” Githinji told the Pukose lead team.

According to Githinji, PPB currently has 174 staff against the establishment of 380.

He now wants the committee to help in ensuring the exchequer addresses the need for additional manpower.

“Clinical trials are an unexploited area that we are actively pursuing. While we have an efficient team, we recognise the need to do more to attract clinical trials,” he said.

The board's chair emphasised ongoing efforts to eliminate unlicensed pharmacies, with operations initiated earlier in the year. 

PPB also aims to attain Maturity Level 3 (ML3) and urged the committee to expedite the establishment of the Kenya Drugs Authority to separate practice from products effectively.

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.

Speaking during the meeting, Pukose said the Kenya Drug Authority Bill, 2022 will be brought to the attention of the House this week on Wednesday before going to the Senate.

“We are also working to ensure you get the required budget under the state department of public health and professional standards to support the PPB to offer optimum services," Pukose said.

The KDA 2022 Bill which Pukose sponsors is designed to stabilise the regulatory framework in the manufacturing and distribution of health-made products and technologies in the country.

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board is the Drug Regulatory Authority established under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, Chapter 244 of the Laws of Kenya.

The board regulates the practice of pharmacy and the manufacture and trade in 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.

These include products 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.