63 people arrested for operating illegal pharmacies in Coast, Nairobi and Central – December 23, 2022
December 23, 2022 – A joint targeted inspection by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) and the Kenya Police Service has arrested 63 people for engaging in illegal pharmaceutical practices in parts of Coast, Nairobi and Central regions.
At least 143 boxes of assorted Health Products and Technologies were seized during the joint investigative and follow-up regulatory inspection exercise that took place between 18th and 23rdDecember 2022.
According to Mr. Julius Kaluai, Head of Inspectorate and Enforcement at the Pharmacy and Poisons Board the inspection focused on investigation, prosecution and reporting of illegal pharmaceutical outlets, and targeted wholesalers.
Mr. Kaluai who said 69 targeted inspections were conducted during the exercise cautioned licensed practitioners against leaving their practice under the care of unqualified personnel.
The affected practitioners he added shall further be subjected before the Board’s disciplinary committee, in addition to court prosecution.
The head of Inspectorate and Enforcement advised the public to avoid buying medicines from chemists bearing no names on display or have no signages.
“This is a key indicator to an illegal pharmaceutical premises,” he noted and urged the public to always verify the registration details of pharmacy practitioners at the community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies as well as any other drug dispensing facilities through https://practice.pharmacyboardkenya.org/LicenseStatus
Suspected practitioners can also be reported via info@pharmacyboardkenya.org
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board is the National Drug Regulatory Authority in the Ministry of Health, established under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act Cap 244 Laws of Kenya to regulate the practice of pharmacy and ensure safety, quality and efficacy of Medical Products and Health Technologies.
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