Nairobi County, KENYA – Pharmacists have played a pivotal role in accelerating Kenya’s journey toward self-reliance in health products and technologies through leadership in local pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Speaking at the University of Nairobi School of Pharmacy’s 50th anniversary symposium on 1st June 2025, Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) CEO Dr. F. M. Siyoi credited the rise of GMP-compliant manufacturing facilities to the profession’s sustained commitment to pharmaceutical excellence.

“This leadership has strengthened Kenya’s pharmaceutical supply chain, enhanced medicine security, and positioned the country as a regional manufacturing hub,” Dr. Siyoi said.

The symposium, themed “Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence in Pharmacy Training and Practice – Transforming Healthcare, Shaping the Future,” brought together academia, regulators, industry players, and students to celebrate five decades of impact in pharmacy education, research, and practice.

Dr. Siyoi acknowledged the University of Nairobi School of Pharmacy as a key institution shaping Kenya’s pharmaceutical landscape, noting many alumni now hold senior regulatory and technical roles at PPB and across public health.

He highlighted PPB’s regulatory milestones, including professional registration, product evaluation, clinical trials oversight, and pharmacovigilance. Partnerships between PPB and the pharmacy profession have driven incentives such as expedited product registration, market access facilitation, and tax waivers to boost local production.

“These collaborations are strategic tools for improving access to quality-assured medicines and building resilient health systems,” he noted.

Dr. Siyoi also introduced the Integrated Regulatory Management System (IRMS), a digital platform that streamlines licensing, product authorizations, professional registration, pharmacovigilance, and inspections.

“This innovation enables stakeholders to engage with regulators via a secure, centralized portal—cutting paperwork, enhancing transparency, and improving turnaround times,” he explained.

Looking ahead, Dr. Siyoi called for greater investment in competency-based training, interdisciplinary research, and a future-ready regulatory workforce, urging the University to lead this next phase. He reaffirmed PPB’s commitment to continued collaboration in support of Kenya’s national development goals.

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