The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PBB) has intensified a three-day crackdown on illicit drugs and unlicensed pharmacies in the Coast region.
Speaking to the media Senior Inspector of Drugs Julius Kaluai, urged pharmaceutical personnel to familiarize themselves with the guidelines and new laws regarding the selling of medicine to avoid penalties.
Kaluai revealed that the board has managed to seize 100 cartons of medicine from those operating without licenses.
He added that they have issued a total of 95 pharmaceutical premises with closure notices and their details will be shared with other government administrative agencies for joint enforcement of closure following their operation in the market without the set government guidelines.
The board has complained of several cases of pharmacies being operated without the presence of a registered pharmacist on the premises where the business is carried out.
He noted that a total of 70 people have been placed under arrest and registered for prosecution in various courts within Coast Region.
‘Let the public interact with us frequently through our website and familiarize themselves with the laws and the fines. The fine now is at a maximum of 1million per count and the highest goes atSh370, 000 for those doing illegal business and the lowest is Sh20, 000,” said Kalui.
Kalui said that during the crackdown PPB officials obtained invoices, receipts, and other documents from the illegal premises that shall aid to identify the licensed wholesalers of pharmaceuticals who are supplying illegal premises.
He noted that the owners of those wholesalers will be investigated, prosecuted and their licenses revoked. At the same time, several absentee superintendents have been identified and shall be prosecuted and have their premises licenses revoked.
“We have a system to deal with the wholesalers who supply drugs to these quacks, we are going to summon them for supporting the running of illegal businesses,” he added.
The board representative said that all their licensed pharmaceutical practitioners are aware that all the medical reps permits, annual practice licenses, certificates for registration of premises, and wholesaler dealer’s licenses expire on 31st December of every year and no extension for the same is provided.
“This is only for the professionals, to those who leave unqualified people to operate the pharmacy business, be warned. We are moving forward to ensure the country is at 2% of a market that is quack-free,” added Kalui.
He noted that, in a case where an unqualified person is arrested at a licensed business, the owner who is a professional will face disciplinary measures.
For the disposal of any pharmaceutical waste, both public and private healthcare have been asked to apply online or get in touch with PPB headquarters and regional offices.
On his part, the Head of Coast Region Dr. Agoro Paddy urged the pharmaceutical personnel to manage properly controlled medicine saying, cases of people being spiked up are on the rise in the Coast.