This archive report was first published on 6 December 2019.
On December 6, 2019, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) launched a major crackdown on chemists in Nairobi, resulting in the shutdown of at least 80 outlets for selling substandard and illegal drugs.
According to Senior Inspector of Drugs Julius Kaluai, the joint operation team with police officers also apprehended 43 suspects during the crackdown.
Of the 43 accused, 10 pleaded guilty and were fined between Sh100,000 to Sh280,000.
The PPB has urged the general public to be extra careful when purchasing medication, advising them to verify the authenticity of drug stores by sending a message to the health codes provided in the stores.
Members of the public can confirm whether a drug store is authorized by sending a message to the health codes, and a confirmation message will be sent to their phones indicating whether the outlet is registered or not.
Health code banners in drug stores are issued by the board to certify that the shops are inspected and registered.
It is worth noting that only 1889 outlets have been captured in the Pharmacy and Poisons Board’s system in Nairobi, highlighting the need for increased vigilance.
The operation in Nairobi follows similar crackdowns in Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, and Busia counties in April 2019, where the board shut down 86 pharmacies for operating illegally and selling substandard drugs.
