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Health CS James Macharia rejects names for pharmacy and poisons board

Health & Science
 Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia

 

Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia has again rejected names submitted to him for appointment to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board which regulates medical drugs in the country.

This is the third time the CS has rejected the names submitted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya chairperson Dr. Paul Mwaniki in a move that is expected to heighten the standoff between the two institutions.

The drugs regulator has been without a Board since December last year which the Ministry has blamed on PSK's failure to submit the names of nominees according to required procedure.

In a letter to Dr. Mwaniki, the Health CS said no to the latest list of 5 names submitted to him for approval, saying he wants at least 16 names from various sectors to choose from rather than handpicked names.

He directed that a fresh list containing more names be submitted by PSK by 31st of this month together with their curriculum vitae.

The CS also demanded that the submitted names should meet constitutional requirements of regional diversity, gender balance, high standard of professional ethics, merit and special needs.

"Please expedite this process to enable me conclude this matter without any further delay," he said in the letter to the PSK boss.

The other stakeholders who have slots in the board, including the University of Nairobi have already submitted their proposed names to the Minister. The standoff only involves PSK.

Sources indicated that Dr. Mwaniki's list has restricted the pool from which the CS could choose from. In addition, it is alleged that pharmacists from all sectors have not been adequately represented.

On March 6th, Dr. Mwaniki submitted 4 names including himself, Dr. Jennifer Orwa, Dr. Sara Agak and Dr. Joseph Oluoch. On 16th March, he again submitted the same names including an addition of Dr. Evans Mwangangi. Again on 8th June, he submitted five names including himself, Dr. Agak, Dr. Mugi Mureithi, Dr. Sarah Vugigi and Prof. Isaac Kibwage.

According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board Act, the CS is required to appoint four pharmacists to the board from a list of names submitted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya.

One of the pharmacists shall be from the Civil Service, one from the community pharmacy; and one from the pharmaceutical industry and another from other sectors, usually pharmacists working in hospitals

Last week, Dr Mwaniki, appeared in a Kibera court for allegedly creating a disturbance at the Pharmacy and Poisons Board offices in Nairobi and allegedly insulting the registrar of the Board of Kenya Dr. Kipkerich Koskei. He, however, did not plead to the charges, after the prosecution asked the court to postpone the case for two weeks.

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