A pharmacy. The arrested suspects failed to produce licences and registration certificates. [Photo/ walleigh.com]
12 people were on Friday arrested in a crackdown on illegal pharmacies in Garissa County.
The operation is being undertaken in a bid to promote healthcare in the county.The crackdown on pharmacists operating chemists and pharmacies without licenses was carried out by inspectors from the Kenya Pharmacy and Poisons Board (KPPB) in collaboration with police.North Eastern region senior drugs inspector Omar Sheikh Ali Omar said the arrested suspects failed to produce licences and registration certificates.Omar said out of the 44 pharmacy outlets inspected so far, 32 complied while 12 were found with staff lacking practice licenses and selling unregistered drugs over the counter.Omar said some 15 pharmacists that got wind of the operation escaped their dragnet, adding that the crackdown was targeting illegal outlets that have not been licensed by the board as they endanger lives of residents.“We suspect that those who escaped arrest were operating illegally. They are however not off the hook since we marked them. They can run but they cannot hide,” said Omar.“There is a misconception out there by members of the public and quacks that because health was devolved then the regulatory body has no right to carry out the inspection,” he added, as quoted by KNA.The regional inspector said despite health being devolved, the enforcement and regulation of the pharmacy practice and trade still remains a national government function.“This is not true. The function still remains with the national government. These are the people we are determined to completely get rid of. This is shameful and unacceptable,” he said.Omar who was accompanied by Abdiwahab Maalim, inspector in charge of Garissa County said the 12 arrested pharmacists were taken to Garissa Police Station and will be arraigned in Court on Monday.