By Peter Ochieng
President William Ruto’s administrationis intensifying the fight against the sale of fake and counterfeit medicines, in a bid to rid the country of harmful drugs sold in licensed and unlicensed outlets.
Speaking in Mombasa on Wednesday when he opened the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) international scientific conference, Deputy President Geoffery Rigathi Gachagua said collaborative efforts between the government and the professionals, is crucial for the successful battle against the merchants of the harmful drugs.
He assured the country that security officers will work closely with PSK and other agencies, to identify crooks and criminals operating pharmacists and chemists illegally, with a view of takinglawful action against them.
“One of our weak points in the fight against drugs and substance abuse are some pharmacists and chemists that are dispensing unprescribed drugs over the counter. We have many young people, even in Mombasa, who get syrups from the establishments and mix them with other things to make dangerous concoctions that are harmful to them,” noted the second in command.
He urged, “I call upon the professionals running the pharmacists and chemists to live up to their oath and do the right thing. Don’t dispense unprescribed drugs over the counter. We must also have a good record of all the drugs dispensed.”
The DP said that all the officers based at the counties, have been instructed to fully collaborate with the professionals and other respective agencies.
“There are many quacks who have opened pharmacies and chemists. We will provide security and intelligence teams to help in cracking them down, to shut them down and take firm action against the crooks.”
He went ahead to congratulate PSK for its 60th anniversary, challenging the members of the society to improve their participation in the formulation of policies.
“That is why we are excited that, among other legal and policy frameworks, PSK has ignited and sustained a robust discourse among professionals, other sector actors, and the public, on the Kenya Drugs Authority Bill, 2022. Among other matters, the Bill proposes the establishment of a single regulatory body on Human and Animal medicines in fulfilment of the Health Act, 2017.”