Nairobi authorities have taken decisive action against illicit pharmaceutical activities, with 24 individuals arrested and 30 unauthorized pharmaceutical outlets closed down in recent operations led by officials from the Poisons and Pharmacy Board (PPB).
According to PPB Inspector Dr. Tom Mwangi, the crackdown targets individuals operating without proper licenses, in violation of the PPB Act. Dr. Mwangi stated, “Since we started the operation last week on Monday, so far we have been able to arrest 24 persons and managed to close 30 pharmaceutical outlets.”
The closure of these outlets is crucial for public health, as illegal establishments often disregard safety standards set by the PPB. Dr. Mwangi highlighted the risk posed by such outlets, noting that they can become conduits for the illegal sale of drugs, including narcotics.
“You will find there will be the sale of medicines without prescription which promotes even sale of narcotics and psychotropic substances without prescriptions,” he explained.
The recent actions in Nairobi County, including closing two illegal chemists in Mbotela, demonstrate the ongoing commitment to eradicating unauthorized pharmaceutical operations.
Dr. Mwangi affirmed, “We want to tell the public that this operation will go on continuously to ensure that we totally rid the country of these illegal pharmaceutical outlets.”
Dr. Julius Kaluai Mwangi, head of enforcement and surveillance at PPB, announced plans to expand the operation to all the remaining 46 counties.
He emphasized that regional PPB coordinators will lead the efforts to eliminate illegal pharmaceutical activities across the devolved units.
The crackdown was initiated following a directive from President William Ruto, who instructed relevant authorities to combat the sale and consumption of illicit drugs and alcohol nationwide.
This concerted effort aims to safeguard public health and ensure compliance with regulatory standards in the pharmaceutical sector.
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