The Kenya Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has recalled a drug used to prevent and treat pneumonia and meningitis.
The board claimed that the drug, known as Gentamycin was causing suffering in patients as it brought serious side-effects. The drugs that were included in the statement issued by PPB are Dawagenta, Gentamed and Caregenta-80.
“The Pharmacy and Poisons Board wishes to bring to your attention the recall of the following Gentamycin products; Dawagenta, Gentamed and Caregenta-80. You are required to immediately quarantine the mentioned products,” the statement by PPB to chemists this week read in part.
[caption caption="Chemist inspecting drugs at a store- via Facebook"]
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Pharmacies that sell the drugs were asked to submit the quantities that their facilities had at the moment as well as the supplier of the said medicine. This was in order to make it easy to recollect the drugs available nationwide.
The board noted that patients experienced terrible headaches after taking the drug which is administered through injections.
Patients are usually required to have a prescription in order to access the drug which costs a little over Ksh2,000 and includes a package of 10 injections to treat or prevent bacterial diseases such as pneumonia and meningitis.
In December 2017, the Ministry of Health issued a directive to recall fake malaria drugs that were being sold in Kenyan chemists. The anti-malaria drug known as Duo-Cotecxin had failed drug tests done by the ministry.
“There was this particular batch that raised questions and immediately we placed a quarantine and recalled all the drugs,” stated PPB Chair Dr Jacinta Wasike when the fake malaria drug was recollected.
In February 2018, PPB had also moved to lock pharmacies that did not comply with regulations and were selling fake drugs. Arrests were made on medical staff who did not have professional qualifications as well.
[caption caption="Pharmacy and Poisons Board registrar Kipkerich Koskei"]
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“These outlets pose a great danger to the public. They can potentially end up giving the wrong medication, dosage, poor quality medicines or misadvise the public,” noted the Nairobi drugs inspectorate head, Julius Kalua.
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