The Kenyan government has continued to innovate ways to boost the country's health sector even as Covid-19 cases surge and counterfeit medical supplies flood the market.
The government's Pharmacy & Poisons Board (PPB), has unveiled a new system dubbed Pharmacovigilance Electronic Reporting System (PvERS) aimed at transforming the pharmaceutical industry.
The new system allows medical experts and other Kenyans to report reactions to pharmaceutical products in real-time to PPB.
It is aimed at ensuring and enhancing patient safety from both counterfeit products and wrong prescriptions.
How it works
PvERS is a suite of software applications for collection and processing of information on suspected Adverse Drug Reactions (sADRs) and suspected Poor Quality Medicinal Products (sPQMPs).
The system enables all consumers, health workers, pharmaceutical companies to electronically submit sADRs and sPMQPs reports to PPB via a web portal using a computer or mobile devices.
It consists of a web-application and a set of downloadable applications for computers and hand held mobile devices.
Users can either log in directly to the web application online or download the appropriate application for the device being used.
How to Access PvERS Online
Users can access the online portal by logging in to PPB website. They have an option of creating an account or not.
Once on the page, they can select the appropriate form and fill the required fields following the prompts or instructions provided. Some fields, marked with an asterix (*) are mandatory and have to be filled.
They should then submit the form. An acknowledgement will be sent by PPB to the Email provided during registration or entered on the form on successful submission of the report
The system allows users to submit their reports as anonymous.
In 2018, the state launched an SMSs messaging service in which Kenyans could use to identify qualified doctors after reports indicated that quack doctors were on the rise.
Most recently, quack doctor Mugo wa Wairimu was sentenced to 11 years in prison for operating a clinic without a license, among other charges.
