Board cracks the whip on 86 unlicensed pharmacies

Dr. Dominic Munyoroku Kiriuki displays a notice that has been placed on shops targeting pharmacies that were found to have flouted regulations during a crackdown. [Duncan Ocholla/Standard]

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has shut down 86 unlicensed pharmacies in western Kenya.

Inspectors from the board also seized drugs from the pharmacies, while those smuggled from Government hospitals were found in three private outlets in a crackdown that started on Monday.

According to Dominic Kariuki, the officer In charge of surveillance at the board, the drugs are believed to have been stolen from health facilities in Kakamega County.

Pleaded guilty

“All those who were found selling Government drugs were arrested and have already been charged,” said Dr Kariuki.

He said some of them pleaded guilty and were slapped with fines ranging from Sh20,000 to Sh90,000.

Kariuki said the board had nailed notices on the doors of the shut pharmacies, to notify the public on why they were shut.

“Copies of the pharmacies’ closure forms have been handed to the local police commanders. They will remain closed until they meet the laid down regulations,” said Kariuki.

At the same time, he noted that some licensed pharmacies employed unqualified personnel, thereby putting lives of Kenyans at risk.

Kariuki said the board intended to summon owners of such pharmacies before its disciplinary committee. If found guilty, they will be fined and have their licenses revoked.

Also those selling expired drugs were put on notice.