NAIROBI (KENYA) September 25, 2019 – Kenya Pharmaceutical Industry regulator Pharmacy and Poisons Board( PPB) has today launched three guidelines aimed at strengthening supply chain integrity and safe disposals of pharmaceutical products as it marks this year’s World Pharmacist Day.
Speaking during the launch, the Ministry of Health, Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr Rashid Aman, termed the Guidelines on Good Distribution Practices, Guidelines on Disposal of Pharmaceutical Waste and Guidelines on Transportation of Pharmaceuticals as major milestones in ensuring efficient and effective drug management in the country.
“Today marks a major milestone in policy formulation in the health sector with the launch of three guidelines,” Dr Rashid said adding that the guidelines on good distribution practices provides a wide range of requirements placed on pharmaceuticals.
The CAS applauded the Board and stakeholders for developing the guidelines and directed that consensus and understanding should be developed regarding the challenges faced in stopping the circulation of substandard medicines in continent.
“Let’s come up with a National approach to tackle this issue, since the problem of substandard and falsified medical products is a global one,” he said and advised on the need to support pharmaceutical industries with the necessary resources to become active participants in the global market.
“Having transparency and accountability will provide the credibility to our industries for global competition and help comply with the global requirements for export,” he said.
The PPB Chairman representative, Dr. Rogers Atebe revealed that 70% of the medicines used in the country are imported with the remaining amount being produced locally.
He also advised the consumers to purchase medicines from pharmacies accredited by PPB. “The most trusted and respected means for the public to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate drug sellers is to use the health safety code which is displayed in all registered pharmacies,” he said.
PPB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Fred Siyoi said the Board, in collaboration with the University of Nairobi, is working on a drug track and trace technology as the regulator intensifies efforts to safeguard the integrity of the drug supply chain.
“The Board is also leveraging on drug testing mobile technology at the ports of entries to test all the drugs entering the country,” Siyoi added.
He said there is a very elaborate medical product registration system established that ensures that only safe, quality and efficacious products are granted market authorization and all manufacturing sites are inspected to ensure that they comply with the requisite standards.
September 25th is observed as the annual World Pharmacists Day. The year’s theme “Safe and effective medicines for all“ shows the important role pharmacists play in protecting patient safety through improved medicine use and reduced medication errors.
The event brought together key partners and stakeholders in the industry among them MoH, PSK, KPA, KAPI, FKPM, KPDA,NQCL, KEMRI, KEMSA, NEMA, ICRC, RAPSK, Envirosafe, GoodLife and other manufacturing companies.