A total of 79 illegal pharmacies have been closed down by Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) in Western and Nyanza regions for flouting regulations.
An intensified crackdown which began last Monday reveals that proprietors have left their registered pharmacies in the hands of unqualified medical personnel putting the lives of the public at risk.
"Most of the outlets have absentee superintendents despite being licensed by the PPB,” PPB Director of Inspection, Surveillance and Enforcement, Dr. Jacinta Wasike said.
During a media briefing in Kisumu, Dr. Wasike advised members of the public to use the Health Safety Code which is displayed in registered pharmaceutical outlets to verify the legality of the premise and practitioners before buying medicines.
“We are encouraging members of the public to verify the status of the outlets by sending SMS to 21031 free of charge to get the status report,” she advised on Thursday.
She directed all pharmacies with expired drugs to safely quarantine them and liaise with regional inspectors for safe disposal.
The routine inspections and crackdowns are regularly conducted to ensure all pharmacies are operated by qualified/registered personnel and also to ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs on sale in the market.