{
  "id": 1415471,
  "title": "Pharmacy and Poisons Board tells Kenyans how to identify suspected fake medicines",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/pharmacy-and-poisons-board-tells-kenyans-how-to-identify-suspected",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-17T04:07:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "People Daily Kenya",
    "slug": "people-daily-kenya",
    "url": "https://peopledaily.digital/news/pharmacy-and-poisons-board-tells-kenyans-how-to-identify-suspected-fake-medicines"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Pharmacy and Poisons Board in Kenya has cautioned citizens to exercise vigilance when purchasing and using medications, warning them to identify potential signs of counterfeit products. Dr. Nambwa Pamela, a pharmacoepidemiologist and pharmacovigilance expert at the board, shared her insights during a local television interview on August 16, 2026, focusing on pharmacovigilance, post-market surveillance, and measures to safeguard the public from unsafe and potentially falsified medicines. The board frequently issues safety alerts and rapid communications to healthcare professionals and the public whenever there are concerns about specific pharmaceutical products. Dr. Nambwa emphasized that the board alerts both healthcare providers and consumers through these safety alerts and rapid alert communications, instructing them on how to identify potentially fake medicines. Consumers are advised to meticulously inspect the packaging and overall appearance of medications, especially when a product deviates from the usual appearance. Individuals who regularly take specific medicines may be able to discern unusual changes due to their familiarity with genuine products. Dr. Nambwa explained that chronic patients, who have used medications for an extended period, would notice discrepancies when a product looks different from what they are accustomed to. When consumers encounter a medicine that appears dissimilar to the one they typically use, it should raise suspicion. The expert provided the example of paracetamol, stating that consumers should question a product if its visual characteristics, such as color, suddenly change unexpectedly. Dr. Nambwa stated, \"If I'm used to paracetamol, it's supposed to be maybe white. When I buy it, and I see some funny colour like brown, yellowish, or something that is a bit off, we just tell you, you need to be suspicious.\" She also cited a recent alert concerning suspected falsified Postinor-2 as an example of the potential dangers consumers must be aware of. However, Dr. Nambwa cautioned the public against attempting to independently verify the genuineness of a medicine. \"You don't need to be certain; just be suspicious that this medicine is looking off,\" she advised. Individuals who notice suspicious medications should report them to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, which can conduct investigations and take appropriate regulatory actions.",
  "summary": "The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has urged Kenyans to be cautious when buying and using medicines, warning consumers to look out for signs that a product could be falsified. Dr Nambwa Pamela, Kenya’s pharmacoepidemiologist and pharmacovigilance specialist at the board, made the remarks during a local television interview on Sunday night, August 16, 2026, while […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "KBC",
        "title": "Poisons board warns of fake P-2 contraceptive pills in the market",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/poisons-board-warns-of-fake-p-2-contraceptive-pills-in-the-market",
        "published": "2026-08-14T09:53:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}