The Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies has warned Kenyans against purchasing drugs over the counter alleging 10 per cent of the drugs in the Kenyan market don't meet the set standards.
According to the agency's head of marketing and strategy Titus Munene, 10 per cent of the drugs fail the quality test and called for Kenyan government to fight against the counterfeit drugs.
MEDS is a faith-based organisation dealing with health advisory services, supply chain and distribution and quality assurance services.
"Through our laboratory, we have been able to test various drugs and I can attest it's never 100 per cent for all drugs. I can say about 10 per cent of the medicines fail the quality," he said.
Speaking at Consolata Hospital Kyeni Fidenza School of Nursing in Embu on Friday during a graduation ceremony, Munene said the government has performed well in fight against the fake medicines but called for further measure to eradicate the vice.
"The government has done well in this fight, we have heard reports of closure of some facilities due to failing the required standards," he said.
Further, he advised the National government to empower county governments and private sectors to ensure there's consistency in the fight against counterfeit.
He said faith-based organisations contribute about 30 per cent in the health care system in the country through the over 800 accredited facilities.
Munene said the availability of counterfeit drugs expose Kenyans to dangers linked to intake of the drugs.
However, he advised Kenyans to ensure they attend health facilities for medical advise instead of buying drugs over the counter.
"I would advise Kenyans to go to hospitals to be tested before taking any drugs as this will reduce the chance to abuse these drugs," he said.
The trained doctor, also advised the graduated nurses to perform their duties in the institutions of their service with integrity and professionalism.
He said nurses are the foundation of any health care and thus they should not be misled by greed to perform any unlawful act in the line of duty such as conducting abortions and mistreating patients.
"Nurses are the first primary person to engage the patient in the hospitals and they should recognise their importance. They should show compassion and love to the patients," he said.
-Edited by SKanyara