Guideline on Importation of Unregistered Medicinal Substances

The amount of medicinal substance imported into Kenya for personal-use is normally small, both in size and value. This occurs especially when a patient seeks medical treatments not available in Kenya. It is thus the responsibility of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to protect the public from fraudulent or otherwise illegal medical treatments in foreign and domestic businesses. It is noted that some countries do not regulate or restrict the exportation of health products and as such people who order from these businesses may not be afforded the protection they deserve from those entities.

The main situations when unregistered medicinal substances maybe imported into Kenya include (list not exhaustive):

1. Patients or relatives mailing medicinal substances to Kenya in response to a prescription-like order to allow continuation of a therapy initiated abroad.
2. Patients or relatives who carry medicinal substances in their personal baggage in response to a prescription-like order to allow continuation of a therapy initiated abroad.
3. With increasing international travel and world trade, people may purchase medicinal substances abroad for personal use or on behalf of the individual requiring the medication that may not be registered in Kenya.

• In certain situations, a healthcare practitioner may prescribe to a patient medicinal substance that may not be registered in Kenya after attending an international continuous professional education.