Pharmacists are urging the government to prioritise their role in Kenya’s health supply chain by integrating them more centrally in decision-making, particularly within the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA). This push aligns with efforts to enhance efficiency, patient safety, and the overall quality of healthcare delivery.
The call was made during the inauguration of new leadership at the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK), where the incoming president outlined a bold vision for the profession. She stressed that pharmacists must play a central role in managing health products and technologies (HPTs), citing the dangers of sidelining professionals in pharmaceutical operations. Currently, pharmacists make up less than 2% of KEMSA’s workforce, compared to up to 70% in similar global organisations.
Kenyan pharmacists have successfully helped build efficient health supply systems in other countries and should be empowered to replicate that success locally. The profession is also concerned about ongoing challenges, including the wastage of medicines due to expiry, the rise of online drug sales, and infiltration by unqualified individuals. Placing pharmacists in leadership positions is seen as key to resolving these issues.
The outgoing leadership echoed these concerns, stating that involving pharmacists in operational decisions leads to better resource management—ensuring the right medicines, in the right quantities, reach patients on time. The unchecked growth of unlicensed pharmacies and counterfeit drug sales online has also raised alarm. Strengthening regulation and improving public awareness about legitimate medicine sources are top priorities for the new leadership.
The Society’s renewed focus includes legislative reforms such as the Kenya Drug Authority (KDA) Bill and the Good Pharmacy Practice Guidelines, which aim to raise standards and protect patients. Leaders in the sector stress that pharmacists’ roles go far beyond dispensing medicine; they are critical players in policy, research, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The new leadership’s agenda is built on four pillars: education, policy, innovation, and collaboration—summed up in the acronym EPIC. These pillars aim to foster unity, encourage youth innovation, promote ongoing professional development, and position pharmacists as essential stakeholders in health systems. The PSK envisions a future where pharmacists are embedded in Kenya’s healthcare landscape, contributing to a WHO-compliant system and achieving universal health coverage.
