KPPB Executive Director Doctor Julius Kaluai (R ), KPPB Coast region head Dr Paddy Agoro (C) and KPPB Central region head Dr Onesmus Kilonzo (L) during the press briefing in Mombasa. [Photo/Maxwell Ngala].
Over 40 Coast-based pharmacists have been netted in the just concluded crackdown on illegal pharmacies in the region.The forty were arrested in Kilifi and Mombasa counties where the week-long operation was conducted.The Kenya Pharmacy and Poisons Board (KPPB) Executive Director Julius Kaluai said the main objective of the operation was to safeguard and protect the health needs of residents.Kaluai said residents in the region should help the board in taming quack pharmacists who are ruining the businesses of the professional pharmacists in the region.He said the team of inspectorate from the board will be conducting random inspections in various regions countrywide.“The forty have already been charged in various courts in Malindi and Mombasa. We marked Kisumu Ndogo area in Malindi and Kisauni, Likoni and Changamwe constituencies in as red zones where counterfeits medicine and unqualified pharmacist operate,” said Kaluai.The board has, however, said there has been a decline in the illegal business at the Coast.“Remember last year we arrested 70 people in the same areas but the illegal business is slowly reducing, we will soon have a very safe Pharmacy business countrywide,” he added.On his part, the Coast regional KPPB Head Doctor Paddy Agoro said that the Coast regional Inspectorate will be carrying out awareness campaigns so as to ensure locals get safe and registered medicine.“Please do not buy medicine from unregistered chemists as this can easily cost your life. All registered pharmaceuticals in the county have our display,” he said.On his part, Dr Onesmus Kilonzo said it is up to the Coastal people to report whenever they suspect the illegal trade of counterfeit medicine.“You will call it cheap and affordable medicine but remember cheap is always expensive it can cost you your life,” he said.Dr Kilonzo said the Board was now venturing into proper inspection of all border points to curb smuggling of illegal medicine into the country.He also revealed that the board was also inspecting all the manufacturers of medicine in the country to ensure only safe products are sold to consumers.