Gov't Announces Nationwide Audit Targeting Hospitals and Pharmaceutical Businesses

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has announced plans to audit Level 4 hospitals and pharmaceutical wholesalers in the country.

According to a statement released by the board on Monday, October 10, the exercise is aimed at enhancing compliance within the sector.

Additionally, the move is also aimed at highlighting rogue businesses and facilities which often steal government drugs.

"The audits also address unauthorized relocations of wholesalers, theft of government-supplied medicines, and unlicensed sales practices that undermine healthcare integrity," read the statement in part.

"This ongoing initiative underscores PPB’s commitment to safe, effective, and high-quality healthcare standards across Kenya."

On his part, Julius Kaluai, the Head of Good Distribution Practices at PPB, highlighted that the exercise will help improve how medicines are handled and also eliminate cases of medication errors and drug misuse.

Some of the guidelines that will be audited during the nationwide exercise include the storage of medicines for cold-chain medicines.

Disposing of pharmaceutical waste in line with the guidelines of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) will also form part of the audit.

Additionally, attention will also be paid to the personnel that are employed in the pharmacies.