CS Health Commands PPB to Intensify Regulatory Oversight and Safeguard Public Welfare
CS Duale was received by the PPB Board, led by Chairperson Dr. John Munyu, and accompanied by the Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Ms. Mary Muthoni.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. Photo/KBC Digital.
By Ruth Sang
Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale has issued firm instructions to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board PPB, urging the regulator to reinforce its mandate and ensure total adherence to existing laws governing pharmaceuticals in Kenya. He emphasized that the Board must take bold and uncompromising action against any persons, facilities, or businesses whose activities put the well-being of Kenyans at risk.
During his first official engagement with the PPB, CS Duale demanded an urgent and nationwide crackdown on all medicines that fail to meet quality standards. He directed that any products found to be counterfeit, falsified, substandard, expired, or unregistered must be urgently withdrawn from the supply chain. According to the CS, individuals engaged in the circulation of such products should face arrest and subsequent prosecution without exception. He also pointed out that the practice of parallel importation must strictly adhere to the Pharmacy and Poisons Rules of 2019.
He further outlined key measures aimed at improving public protection, stressing that the Social Health Authority (SHA) will not reimburse any medication that lacks PPB approval. To strengthen oversight, he announced that a national track-and-trace system is being rolled out to monitor pharmaceutical products throughout the entire supply chain, ensuring authenticity and preventing infiltration of unsafe drugs.
CS Duale’s visit reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening Kenya’s pharmaceutical governance systems as the country advances toward achieving World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3 in regulating health products and technologies. He held comprehensive discussions with the PPB’s leadership, focusing on resolving existing regulatory gaps and identifying long-term strategies aligned with the implementation of Kenya’s Taifa Care Model. The CS called on the institution to maintain the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and professionalism, consistent with the principles outlined in Chapter Six of the Constitution, in order to promote effective and ethical service delivery.
While addressing PPB staff, Hon. Duale reiterated the government’s dedication to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which positions healthcare as a cornerstone of national progress. He highlighted that through BETA, efforts are underway to enhance Universal Health Coverage, increase access to essential and affordable medicines, and expand local pharmaceutical manufacturing to boost both health outcomes and economic resilience.
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