Gov’t Addresses Alleged Plan to Block Over 21,000 Medical Products

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has dismissed reports circulating on social media suggesting that it intends to block over 21,000 medical products from entering the country. 

In a statement on Sunday, October 5, the regulator clarified that the claims were not only unfounded but also crafted to create unnecessary fear among the public.

"The Board has noted with concern a misleading press statement on social media alleging that the Board intends to 'block over 21,000 medical products' from being imported into Kenya, which supposedly places the country 'on the brink of a medicines crisis' due to a shortage of medicines. This claim is false, misleading, and intended to cause unwarranted public anxiety," the statement read.

The Board reassured Kenyans that the country’s supply of medicines remains stable, with thousands of products still available for use across the health sector.

"Contrary to these falsehoods, there is no blockade of medicines in Kenya. The Board has duly retained approximately 9,000 registered medical products that meet national and international standards for safety, efficacy, and quality. These products remain available for local manufacture, importation, and distribution," the statement added.

PPB further stressed that the supply chain for essential drugs remains uninterrupted and that patients should not worry about shortages.

"These products are not affected in any way, and therefore, there is no cause for concern regarding medicine shortages. The Board continues to work closely with all local manufacturers, importers, and healthcare stakeholders to ensure continuous access to essential and life-saving medicines for all Kenyans," the statement further read.

On renewals, the regulator explained that its renewal system is guided by international norms and existing legal frameworks.

"In line with global regulatory best practice, and as required under the Pharmacy and Poisons (Registration of Health Products and Technologies) Rules, 2022, all marketing authorizations are subject to renewal every five (5) years.

"This renewal process enables the Board to confirm that only products meeting current international standards of quality, safety, and efficacy remain on the Kenyan market. Following a series of stakeholder consultations, the Board advised all Market Authorization Holders (Owners of Registered Medical Products) to renew their registrations, which are due for renewal, by 31 December 2025. This process is a routine regulatory measure, not a ban or restriction on medicines," the statement continued.

PPB pointed to the vested interests of certain groups that it believes are behind the misleading reports, insisting that its reforms are aimed at safeguarding Kenyans from unsafe products.

"Accordingly, the Board wishes to inform the public that its ongoing efforts to eliminate illegal importers and to remove unregistered, unauthorized, falsified, and substandard products from the market are meeting resistance from a few unscrupulous individuals and cartels seeking to protect their vested interests," the statement concluded.

This comes days after PPB moved to allay concerns over the safety of paracetamol use during pregnancy.

In a statement on Thursday, October 2, PPB Acting CEO Ahmed Mohamed reassured expectant mothers that the drug remains safe when used under medical supervision.

He explained that the drug, also known as acetaminophen, continues to be a recommended option for managing pain and fever in pregnant women.

"The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) wishes to address concerns regarding the use of paracetamol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy. It reassures the public that paracetamol remains a recommended medicine for the relief of pain and fever in pregnant women, provided it is taken as directed by a qualified healthcare professional," he said.

Mohamed noted that while some studies have suggested a possible link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and developmental conditions in children, there is no definitive proof to support such claims.

"Paracetamol is one of the most widely used medicines in Kenya and globally. While some studies have suggested possible links between its use during pregnancy and conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, there is no conclusive scientific evidence confirming these associations," he added.

Mohamed further emphasized that the PPB monitoring division has not received any reports locally that connect paracetamol use in pregnancy with such conditions.

"The PB's Pharmacovigilance Division has not received any reports linking paracetamol use in pregnancy to ASD or ADHD. The Division continues to monitor the safety of medicines used during pregnancy to protect the health of mothers and children," he further said.

As such, PPB urged pregnant women to only use paracetamol when necessary, strictly in the right dosage, and only when prescribed by a healthcare provider.

The board also called on health professionals to provide counselling to expectant mothers regarding the safe use of paracetamol and other medicines during pregnancy.