PPB begins two-day training of county pharmacists

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has commenced a two-day workshop with county pharmacists.

The training which commenced on Monday is aimed at enhancing the regulation of health products and technologies across the country.

The workshop, which brings together key county pharmacists and regional regulatory officers seeks to identify areas of collaboration and establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to streamline operations and ensure patient safety.

According to PPB, the workshop will focus on several critical areas which include transportation of pharmaceuticals to ensure that pharmaceuticals are transported under appropriate conditions to maintain their efficacy and safety.

The training will also focus on disposal of pharmaceutical waste to ensure adherence to standardised procedures for the safe disposal of pharmaceutical waste to protect public health and the environment.

The pharmacists will also be trained on purchase of pharmaceuticals from registered practitioners to ensure pharmaceuticals are sourced from licensed and registered practitioners.

They will also be trained on the need to employ qualified pharmaceutical personnel to eliminate unqualified practitioners and quacks from the sector.

In addition, timely reporting and removal of substandard or falsified health products from the market and the importance of educating the public on using regulated health products and technologies and the dangers of unregulated drugs will also be discussed.

Speaking during the opening session on behalf of the CEO Dr Fred Siyoi, Deputy Director of Inspectorate and Enforcement at PPB Dr Dominic Kariuki emphasised the board's commitment to working closely with county pharmacists to strengthen surveillance and regulatory frameworks.

"The PPB is keen on fostering a collaborative relationship with county pharmacists to ensure that health products and technologies are safe, effective, and accessible to all Kenyans," Kariuki stated.

He highlighted the importance of these collaborative efforts in safeguarding public health.

"By working together, we can ensure that the pharmaceutical sector operates with the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, ultimately protecting the health and well-being of all Kenyans," he said.

The workshop is expected to culminate in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the PPB and county pharmacists, formalising their commitment to these collaborative efforts.

The MoU will serve as a framework for ongoing cooperation and the implementation of best practices in the regulation of health products and technologies.

County pharmacists expressed their support for the initiative, noting that it would enhance their capacity to regulate pharmaceutical practices at the grassroots level.

 "This partnership with the PPB will empower us to better serve our communities by ensuring that only safe and effective health products are available to the public," chair of county pharmacists Dr Clever Kimathi said.

The two-day workshop marks a significant step towards strengthening Kenya's pharmaceutical regulatory framework and underscores the importance of collaboration in achieving public health goals.