The government has prohibited the delivery of antibiotics through motorcycle riders and courier services, introducing stricter controls on prescription medicines as part of a nationwide campaign against counterfeit and substandard pharmaceuticals.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the directive on Wednesday during the inaugural meeting of the Interministerial Steering Committee overseeing Kenya’s National Action Plan on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products.
According to Duale, antibiotics should only be dispensed under proper medical supervision, warning that the growing trend of ordering prescription drugs online and receiving them through delivery services poses significant risks to public health.
The new directive targets the expanding online pharmaceutical market, where customers can order medicines through digital platforms and have them delivered to their homes within a short time.
Government targets unsafe online medicine trade
The Ministry of Health says the rapid growth of digital medicine sales has exposed weaknesses in the pharmaceutical supply chain, creating opportunities for counterfeit and poor-quality medicines to reach unsuspecting consumers.
Authorities argue that while technology has improved access to healthcare products, inadequate oversight of online medicine sales has made it easier for illegal operators to distribute unregulated drugs.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has repeatedly cautioned that many counterfeit medicines are sold through online platforms and informal distribution channels, putting patients at risk of receiving ineffective or potentially harmful treatments.
Counterfeit medicines remain a major health threat
The crackdown comes amid growing concern over the impact of falsified medicines across Africa. Global estimates indicate that one in every 10 medical products circulating in low- and middle-income countries is either substandard or counterfeit.
Health officials say the problem contributes to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths annually across the continent as patients unknowingly consume medicines that fail to treat illnesses or contain unsafe ingredients.
In Kenya, regulators have previously intercepted counterfeit medicines used to treat conditions including HIV/AIDS, erectile dysfunction and kidney disease, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing enforcement agencies.
Counties to join enforcement efforts
Duale said the government will work closely with county administrations to strengthen regulation of pharmaceutical products from importation to distribution and retail sale.
The initiative will also focus on improving surveillance, tightening quality assurance systems and enhancing public awareness about the dangers of purchasing medicines from unlicensed sources.
Council of Governors Vice Chairperson and Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki called for stricter monitoring of all medicines entering the Kenyan market, saying stronger inspection and reporting mechanisms are needed to eliminate counterfeit products.
He also pledged greater collaboration between county governments and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to ensure medicines supplied to public health facilities meet required safety and quality standards.
The newly formed interministerial steering committee brings together the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior and other government agencies to coordinate enforcement against the manufacture, importation and distribution of substandard and falsified medical products across the country.
