70 Arrested in Countrywide Crackdown

A collage of the PPB board conducting the crackdown on illegal pharmaceuticals
A collage of the PPB board conducting the crackdown on illegal pharmaceuticals
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PBB

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), in collaboration with the National Police Service (NPS), has arrested over 70 people accused of illegally engaging in the pharmaceuticals business.

In a statement released on Friday night, April 1, PPB noted that it was conducting a countrywide crackdown aimed at weeding out all unlicensed practitioners running chemists.

PPB expressed concerns over the high number of illegal chemists that have mushroomed across the country especially in urban centres and local trading centres. The operation, which began on March 28, will see hundreds of illegal chemists shut down.

Medicine seized by Pharmacy and Poisons Board inspectors in a crackdown on illegal pharmacies held in Nairobi on january 22,2021
Medicine seized by Pharmacy and Poisons Board inspectors in a crackdown on illegal pharmacies held in Nairobi on january 22,2021
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The crackdown has resulted in the confiscation of at least 113 boxes of various Medical Products and Health Technologies (HPTs) discovered in the illegal premises.

Kaluai Julius, the Head of Enforcement and Surveillance, stated that the 70 people who had been arrested were being processed for prosecution in court.

“The seized medicines will be analyzed and disposed of as guided through the issued court orders and in accordance with the PPB guidelines and operational Standard Operating Procedures on disposal of pharmaceutical waste,” Kaluai stated.

The targeted HPT distribution outlets include illegal chemists, medicine hawkers, clinics, herbal medicine stores and cosmetic shops stocking medicament containing preparations disguised as cosmetics.

Persons found in violation of the PPB regulations will be charged with being in possession poisons while not being an authorized seller of poisons contrary to the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, Cap 244 Laws of Kenya.

The crackdown also aims to enforce the previously issued closure notices that were meted out during joint crackdowns and routine pharmaceutical regulatory inspections.

The Board's specific effort to curb illegal pharmaceutical activities in the country also includes stakeholder engagement.



In addition to the crackdown, the Board is undertaking an audit of controlled drugs and prescription medicine paperwork in accordance with pharmacy regulations, as well as the execution of warrants of arrest for pharma offences.



The warrants were issued by several courts within the defined territory after the suspects accused of various pharmacy-related offences failed to appear in court, according to the head of good distribution practices.

An office of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board in Nairobi.
An office of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board in Nairobi.
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PPB
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