Kenya, WHO launch initiative to fight fake drugs

By Peter Orengo

The Government and the World Heath Organisation (WHO) have launched a major fight against counterfeit and sub-standard drugs.

Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o put on notice brokers and middle men who supply poor quality drugs and said strict rules to curb the vice would be put in place.

Prof Nyong’o said: "We need to stop sub-standard and counterfeit medicines, which find their way into our country and compromise our efforts to ensure a healthy nation."

Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o commissions the WHO pre-qualified drug quality control laboratory in Industrial Area, Nairobi. At left is Joseph Wasonga of ACK and behind the minister, WHO Country Director David Okello. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

WHO Country Director David Okello said Kenya must implement a stringent regulatory environment to ensure essential drugs are affordable.

"Supply of sub-standard medicines compromises disease control strategies for killer diseases. This cannot be taken lightly," Dr Okello said.

Vigilance system

Nyong’o and Okello spoke during the launch of Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (Meds), a quality control lab accredited by the WHO, at the weekend.

"The Government is working round the clock to fight this menace and the ministry has come up with guidelines," said Nyong’o.

He said a national vigilance system for pharmaceuticals has been established. The Standard last week highlighted on the influx of fake drugs and the danger they posed to Kenyans.

But in a full-page advertisement, the Government denied that counterfeit drugs had found their way into the market.

"We would like to assure the public that the Government has taken adequate precautions and steps to safeguard their health by sensitising, campaigns, sanctions and destruction of impounded counterfeits," the statement said.

However, Nyong’o praised Standard Group for the exposÈ and promised to act on "briefcase pharmacists" that he said had infiltrated the health industry.

Kenya Association of Pharmaceutical Industry Chairman Moses Mwangi said the issue of substandard and counterfeit drugs was serious and required partnership between Government, private sector and media.