19 May 2008
editorial
Nairobi — Evidence indicates that many of the drugs in this country are a health hazard.
The latest study, by an international group, says a third of malaria drugs sold in Nairobi are either substandard or of the wrong formulation.
It warns that these medicines are responsible for thousands of deaths and resistance to malarial strains.
Medical experts say that the best way to treat malaria is through a combination of drugs, a concept which has been adopted internationally and is the official policy in Kenya.
Recently, the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya, and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, separately condemned the proliferation of substandard drugs in the country, but left it at that.
Two years ago, the World Health Organisation warned some pharmaceutical companies, against the production and distribution of malaria monotherapy drugs.
However, to date these companies have continued to manufacture and distribute the drugs.
Now the report has recommended to the World Health Organisation and the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria to withhold funding to countries which do not enforce the non-use of monotherapies and other substandard products.
Such a move could affect millions of Kenyan's who depend on funding from the two bodies for their HIV, TB, and Malaria medicines, but the alternative is even grimmer.
The Poisons and Medical Board which is mandated with ensuring that products in the market are of the required quality and standards must not shirk its responsibility.
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