Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) Chairperson Dr. John Munyu has urged pharmacists, pharmaceutical technologists and medicine outlet proprietors to uphold ethical practice and regulatory compliance, saying the profession has a critical role in safeguarding patient safety as Kenya rolls out sweeping reforms in the pharmaceutical sector.
Speaking at the 22nd Kenya Pharmaceutical Association Scientific Conference in Mombasa, Dr. Munyu said the country's efforts to modernise medicines regulation would only succeed through close collaboration between regulators and healthcare professionals.
"The future of pharmaceutical practice depends on partnership between regulators and healthcare professionals," he said, adding that regulation and professional practice are complementary responsibilities with the shared goal of protecting patients.
Dr. Munyu emphasized that every Kenyan has a right to safe and effective medicines dispensed through a trusted regulatory system.
"Every Kenyan deserves medicine that is safe, effective and of assured quality dispensed by qualified professionals operating within a credible and responsive regulatory system," he said.
The conference, officially opened by Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni, brought together pharmaceutical professionals, regulators, academia, manufacturers, development partners and industry leaders under the theme: "Optimising Pharmaceutical Practice to Advance Patient Safety, Medicine Access and Healthcare Excellence."
According to Dr. Munyu, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board is implementing a series of institutional reforms aimed at transforming the agency into a modern, efficient and internationally recognised National Medicines Regulatory Authority.
He said the reforms are intended to strengthen the country's ability to respond to emerging public health challenges while supporting innovation and expanding access to quality-assured medicines and other medical products.
"The Board is implementing institutional reforms to position PPB as a modern, efficient and internationally recognised National Medicines Regulatory Authority capable of responding to emerging health challenges while facilitating innovation and access to quality-assured medical products," he said.
Dr. Munyu added that the reforms are also designed to create a transparent, predictable and risk-based regulatory environment that supports ethical professional practice, boosts public confidence in medicines and encourages investment in Kenya's pharmaceutical sector.
He further challenged pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists to strengthen compliance with Good Storage and Distribution Practice (GSDP) standards, noting that maintaining the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines throughout the supply chain is a professional obligation that directly affects patient outcomes.
He said safeguarding the pharmaceutical supply chain requires collective responsibility from regulators, manufacturers, distributors and healthcare providers, urging industry players to embrace compliance as a cornerstone of professional practice.
The PPB Chair maintained that a strong regulatory framework, combined with ethical conduct by pharmaceutical professionals, will be essential in improving medicine safety, expanding access to quality healthcare products and building public trust in Kenya's healthcare system.