New pharmacy board must be more active

The new Pharmacy and Poisons Board, launched on Wednesday, assumes office at a time when the medicine cabinets in Kenya are facing a serious threat from counterfeit products.

The board also faces immediate scrutiny for having failed to provide advice and guidance on the use of cough and cold medicines for infants, two years since research findings that some of the preparations were harmful.

The permanent secretary for Medical Services has accused the board of sleeping on the job over the cough syrup issue, which only came to light after some leading hospitals voluntarily withdrew them.

It is to be hoped that the board will address the issue without further delay and put to rest the anxiety of parents who have routinely given the popular remedies to their children and know other alternatives.

It is important that whatever intervention the board makes, the only interest will be the health of children in Kenya rather than the interests of the pharmaceutical industry.

Then there is the issue of fake drugs, that the minister for Medical Services says must be a top priority. The new board also starts work at a time when the cost of medicines is way beyond the reach of many Kenyans who are now forced to do without drugs or resort to questionable treatment.

By and large, the old board will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, including perennial wars with training institutions. It tried to turn itself into an examining council at the expense of drug monitoring.

It spent considerable time and resources turning itself into an examiner for pharmacy students despite the fact that the same candidates had already been examined by the Kenya National Examination Council.

One reason given for the proliferation of substandard drugs in the market is shortage of personnel.

It follows that by disengaging from examinations and other peripheral activities, the board could free a significant number of staff to be engaged in the crucial role of drug inspection.

The board might also find the time to respond to all the emerging research information on drugs, as with the cough syrup findings, and take appropriate and timely action.

We hope that the new board will move swiftly to restore leadership to the critical sector.