On Tuesday, cnyakundi.com exposed how struggling online store Jumia Kenya has now ventured into the prescription drugs business in contravention to Pharmacy and Poisons Act.
Today, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board has sent out a statement asking Jumia Kenya and other such online e-commerce platforms that are hawking prescription drugs online to cease.
“It has come to the attention of the Board that some e-commerce platforms, are trading in medical products, including prescription only medicines, in total disregard of the provisions A the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (CAP 244, Laws of Kenya”, the statement read in part.
In 2018, alarm was raised over Kenyans abuse of prescription drugs such as codeine. This was in contravention to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act
Here is their full statement below:
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board’s mandate is to protect and promote the health of the public by regulating the profession of pharmacy and ensuring access to quality. safe, efficacious and affordable health products and technologies.
It has come to the attention of the Board that some e-commerce platforms, are trading in medical products, including prescription only medicines, in total disregard of the provisions A the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (CAP 244, Laws of Kenya.
The Board is working with the Communications Authority of Kenya to pull down the concerned domains and is carrying out investigations on all online platforms involved in the said illegality SO as to take necessary regulatory action on persons and parries involved.
In this regard therefore, we appeal to the members of the public to buy medical products only from authorised premises whose license status can easily be verified using a health safety code, visibly placed in medicine outlets/pharmacies, by sending an SMS to 21031.
The Board would also like to thank the members of the public for the continued engagement in matters that involve safe use of medical products and welcome any feedback by contacting us on 0709770100 (or sending an email to their various email addresses)
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