The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has called on Kenyans to exercise caution when purchasing and using medicines, highlighting the importance of identifying potentially falsified products.
Dr Nambwa Pamela, Kenya’s pharmacoepidemiologist and pharmacovigilance expert at the Board, spoke on these concerns during a televised interview on the evening of August 16, 2026. She emphasized the Board’s ongoing efforts in pharmacovigilance and post-market surveillance aimed at safeguarding the public from unsafe medicines.
Dr Nambwa explained that the PPB routinely issues safety alerts and rapid communications to healthcare professionals and the public whenever there are concerns about specific pharmaceutical products.
Key Advice for Consumers
- Carefully inspect medicine packaging and appearance before use.
- Be alert to any differences from familiar products, especially for chronic patients accustomed to specific medicines.
- Check for unusual changes in tablet colour, spelling errors, or discrepancies in product names.
- Question any unexpected alterations, such as a paracetamol tablet displaying an unusual colour.
She cited a recent alert concerning suspected falsified Postinor-2 as an example of the ongoing risks consumers should be aware of.
While consumers are encouraged to remain vigilant, Dr Nambwa advised against attempting to confirm a medicine’s authenticity independently. Instead, she urged those who notice suspicious medicines to report them promptly to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board for investigation and appropriate regulatory action.
