Poisons Board reforms strengthen patient safety, support UHC

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has enhanced pharmacy practice and health product regulations to bolster patient safety and Universal Health Coverage. This was revealed at the Kenya Health Summit 2026, showcasing advancements in professional and premises licensing, digitization, medicine safety, and combating substandard products.

Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ahmed Mohamed reported that 15,679 pharmacists and 11,141 facilities have been licensed. The Board initiated Kenya's first Good Pharmacy Practice Standards and inspected 605 facilities across 43 counties to boost service quality. PPB has also digitized regulatory services via Practice360 and Facility360, enabling citizens to verify pharmacy licenses via QR codes.

Surveillance efforts have intensified, with 1,413 product-quality complaints reviewed, 99 recalls coordinated, and 14 rapid alerts issued. Enforcement led to 95 arrests and closure of 48 non-compliant premises. Medicine-safety monitoring expanded county-wide via web, mobile, and USSD reporting, with 32,833 adverse drug reaction reports analyzed.

To tackle substandard and falsified medical products, a multisectoral committee involving health, regulatory, customs, security, and law-enforcement agencies was established. The Board collaborates with the Digital Health Agency to launch a national Track and Trace system, enhancing supply-chain visibility and detecting substandard or falsified products.

Local pharmaceutical manufacturing is supported through Good Manufacturing Practice inspections and capacity-building for 13 new manufacturers. The PPB remains committed to a modern, science-based, and digitally enabled regulatory system that supports innovation and sustainable healthcare, urging the public to obtain medicines only from licensed pharmacies and report suspected issues promptly.