More than 68 illegal pharmacy traders have been arrested and prosecuted in western region for illegally dealing in pharmaceuticals.

An operation spearheaded by Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) Deputy Director of Inspectorate Dr Dominic Kariuki impounded 133 cartons of assorted medicines and shut down more than 114 pharmaceutical outlets.

In the operation, some medicines supplied by the government were found in a private chemist at Mayoni market in Kakamega County.

In that regard, the Board called on the courts to issue deterrent sanctions under the revised Pharmacy and Poisons Act 2019 to those found guilty of contravening provisions of Cap 244 of the laws of Kenya to tame the vice.

PPB said through its surveillance systems it had profiled hot spots in Western region with high levels of non-compliance to Good Distribution Practices of Medical products and health technologies.

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Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma and Vihiga counties were targeted in the joint operation by PPB inspectors, national government administrators and the police which started on May 17.

Unlicenced premises, pilfered government drugs, illegal medicine hawkers and illegal sale of restricted medicines in the open-air markets, general shops and kiosks in the region were targeted.

Illegal pharmacies crackdown. PHOTO/PPB

The board added that registered pharmacists and enrolled pharmaceutical technologists involved in pharmaceutical malpractices were flagged and will face disciplinary action.

PPB further appealed to the general public to report any suspected cases of quacks trading in pharmaceuticals within their areas as they posed a danger to public health.

One can verify whether a pharmacy outlet is registered outlets by sending the code displayed in the outlets to 21031 toll free.