By KPC Reporter
The convenience of ordering goods from mobile phone applications and having them delivered to doorsteps has become a way of life for many Kenyans, especially in urban areas.
From groceries and household items to medicines, online delivery services have transformed how consumers access products and services.
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However, the government is now raising concerns over the growing trend of home delivery of prescription medicines, particularly antibiotics.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced measures that will effectively outlaw the delivery of antibiotics through riders, warning that the practice poses serious public health risks.
Speaking during the inaugural meeting of the Interministerial Steering Committee for the Kenya National Action Plan on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products in Nairobi, Duale said the move is aimed at protecting Kenyans from the dangers associated with unregulated medicine distribution.
The CS noted that the directive comes at a time when the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) is raising alarm over the increasing infiltration of substandard and falsified medicines into the Kenyan market.
According to available statistics, a significant proportion of falsified and substandard medicines are sold through online platforms and informal markets. Global data further indicates that one in every 10 medicines in low- and middle-income countries is either substandard or falsified.
Duale said the government will launch a nationwide conversation involving both national and county governments to address the growing threat posed by fake and substandard drugs.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board warned that the problem is becoming a major public health concern, with falsified medicines contributing to thousands of preventable deaths across Africa. Estimates show that about 267,000 people die annually on the continent due to the use of substandard or falsified medicines.
In Kenya, some of the most commonly falsified medicines include drugs used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, erectile dysfunction medications such as Viagra, and medicines used in dialysis treatment.
The board also pointed to weaknesses in medicine handling and storage at some county health facilities, saying poor practices can contribute to the deterioration of drug quality. It called for stronger collaboration between national and county governments to address the challenge.
Council of Governors Vice-Chairperson and Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki called for stricter oversight of all medicines entering the country, as well as continuous monitoring and effective reporting systems to curb the circulation of counterfeit drugs.
Njuki also pledged stronger collaboration between county governments and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to safeguard the quality and safety of medicines administered to Kenyans.
The interministerial steering committee includes the Ministry of Interior among its key enforcement partners as the government intensifies efforts to combat the distribution of substandard and falsified medical products.
