Schedule of Fees for Regulatory Activities

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) is established under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (CAP 244). The Pharmacy and Poisons Act provides for the control of the profession of pharmacy and the trade in drugs and poisons through the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.

The Cap 244 has been amended severally over the years to accommodate new challenges that arise from expanding regulation of the pharmaceutical industry. Control of products now includes products such as medical devices, nutritional supplements, cosmetics, vaccines, blood products and herbal products. The regulatory activities have also been expanded to include transportation of pharmaceuticals, safe disposal of pharmaceutical waste, batch/lot release among others. The Pharmacy profession now covers pharmacists, pharmaceutical technologists, pharmacy specialists, pharmaceutical representatives and the regulation of pharmacy training.

The amendments, however have not adequately addressed the expanding mandate in terms of fees charged for services rendered and penalties meted out to offenders. The PPB levies fees for services rendered in executing its mandate of regulating the profession of pharmacy and ensuring the safety, quality and efficacy of medical products and health technologies. These fees are gazetted by the Cabinet Secretary for Health according to Section 44 of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, which gazettement was last done in 2010.