Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Wednesday appealed to pharmacists and chemists to adhere strictly to professional standards and regulations.
He spoke during the opening of the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya International Scientific Conference in Mombasa where he emphasized the importance of dispensing drugs responsibly and maintaining accurate records.
He highlighted the critical role that pharmacists play in safeguarding public health.
"I want to call upon all those professionals who run pharmacies and chemists to live up to your oath and just do the right thing," he said.
"Please don't dispense drugs over the counter that are supposed to be dispensed upon a prescription. Again, let us put a good record of all drugs that we dispense."
Gachagua also expressed his concern about the presence of unqualified individuals operating illicit pharmacies.
"There are many other quacks who have opened pharmacies and chemists that are not licenced," he said, noting the potential risks to public health from such practices.
He underscored the need for licenced establishments to lead by example, maintaining high standards of practice and ensuring that all medications are dispensed according to regulations.
He said that his call to action highlights the government's commitment to ensuring that all pharmacies and chemists operate within the legal framework and adhere to the highest standards of professionalism.
"I want to request that you as a society work with us," he said, proposing partnerships between pharmacists and county security and intelligence teams.
This collaboration aims to "crackdown on illicit pharmacies and chemists, destroy the drugs, and take the people who are running them to jail where they belong."
The Deputy President's remarks come in the wake of growing concerns over the proliferation of unlicenced pharmacies and the illegal sale of prescription drugs without proper authorisation.
