This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
On October 2, 2019, the Kenyan government took swift action to protect its citizens' health by withdrawing the popular anti-acid drug Ranitidine from the market.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board directed all chemists and suppliers nationwide to recall all Ranitidine products in the Kenyan market, citing concerns over the presence of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a cancer-causing impurity.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), some Ranitidine products contain low levels of NDMA, which is linked to liver damage.
Dr. Fred Siyoi, the CEO of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, instructed pharmacies to carry out a level two recall of all Ranitidine products and submit details of all imported products from the last three years.
"In order to safeguard the health of Kenyans, you are instructed to carry out a level two recall of all ranitidine products from the Kenyan market," Dr. Siyoi said in a circular.
