Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has launched a sweeping nationwide crackdown targeting pharmacies operating illegally and selling fake medicine, warning that several businesses could soon face closure if they fail to meet strict requirements.
Speaking during an address in Nakuru County on Wednesday, July 23, Duale expressed deep concern over the rising number of unqualified individuals selling medication over the counter, putting the health and safety of Kenyans at risk.
He revealed that the government, through the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), will roll out countrywide inspections to identify and shut down pharmacies selling counterfeit drugs or operating without proper licenses.
Duale firmly warned all pharmacy owners and shopkeepers that only licensed pharmacists are allowed to dispense medicine. He stressed that medications prescribed by doctors must first be approved by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board before being given to patients.
“Don’t sell medicine if you’re not a trained pharmacist — not even from your shop,” he said. “From now on, we will not allow fake medicine, unqualified health workers, or bogus chemists to operate in Kenya.”
He added that anyone running a pharmacy without the required training or permits should brace for harsh consequences, hinting that the government will shut down all such outlets immediately.
In addition to cracking down on illegal drug sales, Duale also issued a tough directive to hospitals, warning them against admitting patients beyond their officially approved bed capacity. He emphasized that every health facility must operate within its licensed bed limits, or risk serious penalties.
The CS pointed out that the new rule is part of a bigger plan to improve the healthcare system by ensuring that reimbursements from the Social Health Authority (SHA) match the actual capacity and services provided by hospitals.
“There should be no more cases of patients sleeping on floors or two mothers sharing one hospital bed,” Duale stressed. “Kenyan patients must be treated with dignity — from now on, they are the bosses. Health workers must treat them with care and respect.”
To ensure full compliance, Duale ordered officials at the Ministry of Health to vet all hospital claims against the approved bed capacity listed for each SHA-accredited facility. This move is meant to block exaggerated or false claims by overcrowded hospitals.
With these new directives in motion, the Ministry of Health has taken a bold step to clean up the healthcare sector, safeguard patient safety, and restore public confidence in medical services across the country.
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