Child Recovering After Reported Medication Dispensing Error at Eldoret Pharmacy.
“On 25 February 2026, the child received the correct ophthalmic formulation of the antiviral agent, and preliminary findings indicate that the child is recovering as expected,” the statement said.
A collage image showing Eldobase Pharmacy in Eldoret and Pauline Osoro, the mother of the child involved in the reported medication dispensing error. Photo courtesy: HubzMedia.
By Hubz Media Reporter
Pharmaceutical professional bodies have confirmed that a medication dispensing error occurred at a pharmacy in Eldoret involving a 12-year-old child, but say the patient is currently stable and recovering as authorities review the incident.
In an official position statement dated February 27, the Kenya Pharmaceutical Association (KPA) said the case involved the dispensing of a topical dermatological preparation instead of the intended ophthalmic medication.
The association noted that although such incidents are rare, medication errors remain a recognized challenge within healthcare systems worldwide.
“Medication errors, while regrettable, may arise at various points in the medication use process including prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, labeling or administration,” the association said.
According to the KPA, the attending physician reported that the child experienced side effects but was stable and out of danger following medical attention.
“We extend our sincere empathy to the child and the family for the distress this incident may have caused,” the association said.
The professional body also clarified that the pharmaceutical practitioner involved is a duly licensed professional with a long record of service and that the pharmacy premises where the incident occurred is registered and authorized to operate under existing regulatory frameworks.
KPA said the practitioner acknowledged the error and cooperated with ongoing professional and regulatory review processes.
“Transparency and accountability are fundamental pillars of patient safety and quality improvement,” the association added.
Error Occurred During Busy Hours
The Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists (KNUPT) also issued a statement confirming the incident occurred on February 23 during peak operating hours when the pharmacy was handling high patient demand.
According to the union, the patient had presented a handwritten prescription for an antiviral medication that exists in multiple formulations, including ophthalmic and topical preparations.
“The antiviral medication in question is available in different strengths and formulations depending on the intended body region. Such variations make this class of medications particularly prone to dispensing errors, especially when prescriptions are handwritten or ambiguous,” the union said.
KNUPT noted that the error was later identified by the prescribing clinician and corrected.
“On February 25, the child received the correct ophthalmic formulation of the antiviral agent and preliminary findings indicate that the child is recovering as expected,” the union said.
The union also apologized to the affected family and called on regulators, including the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the error.
Citing data from the World Health Organization, the union added that medication errors contribute to harm in approximately one in 30 patients globally, underscoring the need for continuous improvements in patient safety systems.
Mother Raises Concerns
The child’s mother, Pauline Osoro, has however raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the error.
According to Osoro, the pharmacy allegedly misread a doctor’s prescription and dispensed skin ointment instead of eye medication.
“My child has been applying skin ointment to the eye yet the doctor had prescribed eye medication. The pharmacist misread the prescription,” she said.
She said the error became evident after the child began experiencing severe pain.
“The child started complaining of a lot of pain and complications and that is when we realized something was wrong,” she said.
Osoro further alleged that the pharmacy attempted to resolve the matter privately by offering her KSh 10,000, an offer she declined.
“They offered me ten thousand shillings to keep quiet, but I refused because I do not yet know the extent of the damage to my child’s eye,” she said.
The child was later admitted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, where doctors are monitoring the condition.
Incident Sparks Public Confrontation
The matter sparked tension in Eldoret town for the second time after some people gathered outside Eldobase Pharmacy along Ronald Ngala Street demanding accountability over the incident.
The situation escalated when a group of people confronted staff at the pharmacy, forcing the business to temporarily close as security officers moved in to restore calm.
Business Community Condemns Mob Action
Business leaders in Eldoret have since condemned the confrontation, warning that mob action could threaten the town’s business environment.
Officials from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Uasin Gishu chapter reported the incident to police and called for investigations.
Isaac Chumba, a director at the chamber, described the incident as alarming.
“Today’s incident is one of the worst scenarios we have experienced in Eldoret where goons were mobilized to intimidate and attack a business,” Chumba said.
He claimed individuals entered the premises, took photos and videos, and demanded compensation from the business owner.
“The way the incident happened involved hiring a mob to attack the business and it affected many other businesses along Ronald Ngala Street,” he said.
Another business leader, Lillian Bitok, said traders sympathize with the child but urged residents to follow proper dispute resolution channels.
“We sympathize with what happened to the child. However, there was a better and more amicable way to handle the situation,” Bitok said.
Calls for Investigation
Professional bodies have urged members of the public to allow regulators to investigate the matter through established disciplinary procedures.
They warned that public intimidation of healthcare professionals could undermine essential services provided by pharmacies, which often serve as the first point of care for many patients.
Meanwhile, the child remains under medical observation as doctors continue monitoring the condition of the eye while investigations into the incident continue.
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