Pharmacy and Poisons board banner.PHOTO | PPB
In Summary:
- The government orders pharmacies and agro-vets to undergo license verification within 30 days or face closure due to rampant abuse of prescription drugs, as highlighted by NACADA.
- Pharmacies must submit licenses to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, while agro-vets should do so to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
:
The government has issued a directive compelling pharmacies and agro-vets to present their licenses to the respective licensing authorities for scrutiny within the next month, failing which they risk closure.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki underscores the necessity of this move, citing the escalating misuse of prescription drugs, a concern flagged by NACADA.
Interior CS Kindiki emphasizes that stringent measures will be taken against establishments operating without a valid license, with county security forces tasked with enforcement.
He warns, “Failure to which they shall be deemed unlicensed for closure. All unlicensed and noncompliant drug manufacturers, agro vets and chemists are to be shut down with immediate effect.”
NACADA’s surveys conducted over the past three years reveal alarming trends in drug abuse across Kenya. A report from 2022 revealed that over 60,000 Kenyans were abusing prescription drugs, with a higher prevalence among females.
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In a 2023 survey at the Coast, NACADA identified emerging drugs, including prescription medications commonly used as antidepressants and anaesthetics for both humans and animals.
CS Kindiki announces stringent measures against pharmacists and veterinary doctors dispensing prescription drugs without proper authorization, stating, “All licensed chemists or pharmacies and agro vets when issuing prescriptions drugs shall mandatorily issue a certification of the issuing chemist or agro vets, name and license number of the issuing officer for purposes of tracing.”
Notably, abusers of prescription drugs have been reported to combine them with other substances like heroin, believing it enhances potency.
NACADA’s investigations also reveal that some prescription drugs are diverted from government hospitals and mental health facilities through a network involving street peddlers.