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Tag: PPB

  • Pharmacy and Poisons Board warns of fake cancer drug in circulation

    Pharmacy and Poisons Board warns of fake cancer drug in circulation

    The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has sounded the alarm over a falsified batch of Avastin (Bevacizumab 100mg) Injection, a cancer drug currently circulating in the Kenyan market.

    In a statement, the Board said the counterfeit batch, labelled H0573B01, is falsely purporting to be manufactured by global pharmaceutical company Roche.

    The regulator warned that the fake product poses serious risks to patients who depend on Avastin to manage cancers such as colorectal, lung, and kidney cancer.

    Avastin is prescribed to manage several types of cancer, including colorectal, lung, and kidney cancer, by helping slow the growth of tumors.

    The Board has urged hospitals, pharmacies, and wholesalers to verify their stock and immediately report any suspicious consignments linked to the falsified batch.

    It further urged all players in the medical supply chain to source health products only from licensed manufacturers, importers, and distributors.

    “Obtaining products from unlicensed sources endangers patient safety and will result in strict regulatory and legal consequences.”

    The Board added that it is working with investigative agencies to trace and prosecute those behind the circulation of the counterfeit drug in violation of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap 244).

    PPB has urged members of the public to report any suspected fake or substandard medicines through its official channels.

  • PPB urges regional action to secure medicine supply in EA

    PPB urges regional action to secure medicine supply in EA

    The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has urged East African countries to strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains and enhance regional cooperation to combat the rising threat of illicit health products.

    Speaking at a workshop in Nairobi, PPB CEO Dr. Fred M. Siyoi highlighted Kenya’s pilot of the Pharmaceutical Authentication and Traceability Program (PATP), which uses digital tracking and AI to ensure medicine authenticity and supply chain transparency.

    Building on the success of last year’s Operation African Star 1, Dr. Siyoi called for joint action across borders and collaboration among regulators, logistics providers, ICT partners, manufacturers, and patients.

    The multi-agency workshop brings together key regional and international stakeholders to develop strategies aimed at securing supply chains and protecting consumers across East Africa.

  • Pharmacy and Poisons Board launches nationwide crackdown

    Pharmacy and Poisons Board launches nationwide crackdown

    The Pharmacy and Poisons Board is conducting a nationwide crackdown on illegal pharmaceutical activities.

    With support from the National Police Service, the Board aims to illegal pharmaceutical operations to safeguard public health.

    Addressing the media in Murang’a, Dr. James Gathogo, Head of Central Region, reiterated PPB’s commitment to safeguard public health by ensuring all pharmaceutical outlets are operated by qualified personnel.

    Dr. Gathogo highlighted the importance of patient safety and cautioned the public against self-medication, which may lead to complicated outcomes and/or addictions.

    Additionally, he urged professionals in the pharma sector to ensure compliance and self-regulation at all times.

  • Pharmacy Board kicks off nationwide crack down on illegal pharmaceuticals

    Pharmacy Board kicks off nationwide crack down on illegal pharmaceuticals

    The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has intensified surveillance and enforcement efforts to curb the illegal distribution, wholesale, and transportation of pharmaceuticals in a bid to protect public health.

    The operation in collaboration with the National Police Service (NPS) kicked off Monday in Nakuru and will target unlicensed courier services, motorbike operators, and public transport providers.

    According to PPB’s Head of Enforcement and Surveillance, Julius Kaluai, the crackdown aims to eliminate non-compliant pharmaceutical practices by enforcing regulatory standards across the country.

    Kaluai cautioned unlicensed courier services, motorbike operators, and public transport providers against handling pharmaceuticals without authorization warning that they must meet national standards or face disciplinary measures.

    The crackdown follows a recent nationwide audit of health facilities aimed at identifying and addressing malpractices within the pharmaceutical sector.

    Kaluai stated that data gathered during the surveillance would help pinpoint patterns in illegal pharmaceutical activities, enabling intelligence-based enforcement to better target these issues.

    He also highlighted the need for closer collaboration between PPB and other government agencies at border points to prevent the entry of unregistered pharmaceuticals, further strengthening safeguards for public health.

    Additionally, Kaluai issued a notice to retail outlets operating unauthorized online pharmacies, urging them to register their premises according to the services they provide.

    He warned that all non-compliant entities would face strict enforcement measures to protect the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain.

    The Pharmacy and Poisons Board is urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected illegal activities within the sector.

  • PPB issues alert over fake diagnostic drug- Visipaque

    PPB issues alert over fake diagnostic drug- Visipaque

    The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has issued an alert over fake radiographic contrast agent in the market.

    The board confirmed that substandard and falsified (SF) batches of Visipaque (Iodixanol) 320 mg/mL vials had infiltrated the market illegally by importation and distribution through unauthorised and illegal supply chains.

    The contrast agent is commonly used by radiographers during certain medical procedures, such as CT scans and angiography.

    The Board (PPB) confirmed that it has received several complaints regarding quality defects and suspected adverse events.

    The affected products are Visipaque (Iodixanol) 320 mg/mL manufactured by GE Healthcare Ireland, Cork Ireland: Batch Number 15950809, 15944839, 15950792 and 15906117.

    The other is manufactured by GE Healthcare (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, China: Batch Number 5389618, 15429745, 15444386, 15661498, 15904073, 15751274, 16017833, 16044911, 16085815, 16100415, 16107210 and 16177061

    In an effort to safeguard public health and safety, healthcare facilities in possession of these affected product batches are urged to immediately quarantine the products and report to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board offices for further guidance and necessary action.

    The board warned that it will take legal action against unscrupulous people who are engaging in illegal trading in pharmaceuticals have been warned.

    “Further, the PPB strongly cautions the public against engaging in any form of trade, distribution, wholesale, retail, issuance, dispensing or use of this product due to the serious safety and health risks it poses. Any person found handling or distributing these products will be subject to legal action”.