Govt Tells Kenyans To Stop Selling & Using 2 Drugs
The board began by issuing a Quarantine Order for Mefnac Oral Suspension (Mefenamic Acid 50 Mg/5 MI) Manufactured by Efroze Chemical Industries Pvt Ltd, Pakistan.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) on Wednesday, December 11 notified Kenyans over two drugs circulating the Kenyan market which are suspected to be contaminated.
The board began by issuing a Quarantine Order for Mefnac Oral Suspension (Mefenamic Acid 50 Mg/5 MI) Manufactured by Efroze Chemical Industries Pvt Ltd, Pakistan.
"This action has been taken due to suspected contamination with Diethylene Glycol (DEG)/Ethylene Glycol (EG) at levels above the acceptable limits," PPB stated in part.
The board consequently advised all pharmaceutical outlets, healthcare facilities, healthcare professionals, and members of the public to immediately quarantine the product and stop further distribution, sale, issuance, or use until further communication from the Board.
A collage of the substandard Floracil 1000 medicine and Mefnac medicine that have both been flagged by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. /PPB
PPB in line with its mandate under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, (CAP 244), monitors the market for the presence of illegal Health Products and Technologies (HPTs).
At the same time, the board, during routine post-market surveillance (PMS) activities, identified an unregistered and substandard product, Floracil 1000 (Fluorouracil 1000mg/2ml) Injection, manufactured by Bruck Pharma PVT LTD, India.
"In light of this, the Board strongly cautions the public and healthcare professionals AGAINST the trade, distribution, wholesale, retail, issuance, dispensing, use, or administration to patients of this product," the Board urged Kenyans.
"Further, in collaboration with Government Investigative Agencies, the Board will take legal and regulatory action against any individuals involved in placing this unregistered product in the market, in violation of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (CAP 244)."
PPB stated that it remains committed to protecting public health and urges the public and healthcare professionals to remain vigilant.
Furthermore, any suspected cases of sub-standard or falsified HPTs or adverse drug reactions following the use of HPTS can be reported to the nearest healthcare facility.
Meanwhile, PPB, in collaboration with Missions for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS), commenced the implementation of advanced Near Infrared Technology (NIR) known as Pillscan on Wednesday.
Acquired from Global Health Labs USA with support from the Global Fund, this cutting-edge technology is set to enhance PPB’s quality control systems by detecting substandard and falsified medical products, thereby ensuring the safety, quality, and effectiveness of medicines.
The implementation phase began on Monday, December 9, 2024, at the PPB headquarters. It includes personnel re-training conducted by software engineers from Global Health Labs USA, equipment qualification, and the development of a comprehensive library to support the technology’s operation.
