The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) has issued a stern communique addressing the unilateral launch of Pharmacy First Services by certain insurance companies, raising significant concerns about patient safety and healthcare standards.

The move by these insurers has triggered a wave of public, professional, and regulatory uproar, prompting the PSK to take decisive action.

"The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) issues a communique on the unilateral launch of Pharmacy First Services by certain insurers, causing public, professional, and regulatory uproar with utmost concern for patient safety and healthcare standards," the communique reads.

The crux of the matter revolves around certain insurance companies initiating pharmacy-first services without prior consultation with the PSK and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB).

A critical revelation indicates that a majority of the contracted pharmacies are compromising patient safety by engaging in cost-cutting measures.

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They are providing pharmacist services without registered pharmacists, a blatant violation of Cap 244 section 31 subsection 2.

This alarming practice is carried out under the guise of convenience and accessibility, deceiving unsuspecting insurance companies and the general public.

Both the medical fraternity, represented by the Kenya Medical Association (KMA) and PSK, have expressed grave concerns regarding the potential compromise of standards.

PSK, on the 27th of October, dispatched letters to Britam and Old Mutual insurance companies, copied to the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) and PPB, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Adding to the chorus of disapproval, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Council (KMPDC) has officially sounded the alarm about potential compromises in standards from their perspective.


The background of this controversy lies in a groundbreaking collaboration between Old Mutual, Haltons Pharmacy, and Goodlife Pharmacy.

This partnership introduced the Pharmacy First service in Kenya, aiming to revolutionize primary healthcare access and delivery.

Under this innovative program, falling under Old Mutual's medical covers, clients can seek consultation with clinicians at accredited pharmacies and receive necessary medications if the condition can be effectively managed on-site.

As this issue unfolds, it underscores the delicate balance between accessibility and patient safety.

The PSK's communique serves as a stark reminder of the importance of collaboration and adherence to regulatory standards in ensuring the well-being of the public in matters concerning healthcare services.