The Ministry of Health through the Pharmacy and Poisons Board has recalled all ranitidine products from the Kenyan market.
The drugs used to treat ulcers are said to contain impurities known as Genotoxix N-nitrosodimenthylamine (NDMA), which could cause cancer.
Giving the order to have all the drugs recalled from Kenyan markets, Pharmacy and Poisons Board Chief Executive Officer, Dr F.M Siyoi said the move is aimed to save the lives of Kenyans.
“In order to safeguard the health of Kenyans, you are hereby instructed to carry out a level two recall of all ranitidine products from the Kenyan market,” reads the notice as quoted by Citizen Digital.
Dr Siyoi also noted that going forward, all pharmaceutical firms should provide information about all the ranitidine products brought into the country in the last three years.
While submitting the above information, Siyoi said the firms should include; dosage form, batch numbers, quantities imported, batch expiry dates, distribution details.
A study conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last month revealed that some ranitidine medication like Zantac had some levels of NDMA which could cause cancer.