The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) of Kenya and Uganda's National Drug Authority (NDA) have launched a joint initiative to tackle the pressing issue of illicit medical products.
The collaborative effort, dubbed "Operation African Star," includes international partners from the US, UK, and the European Union, aiming to protect consumers from dangerous health products.
Dr Fred Siyoi, chief executive of PPB, emphasised the global health risks posed by the unregulated trade in medical products.
"The threat posed by illicit trade in health products and technologies impacts global public health, and consumers," he said.
"This risk increases when health products and technologies are obtained outside of the unregulated supply chain."
Operation African Star, spanning four days, involved joint enforcement teams targeting violative shipments via postal and air cargo.
Dr Siyoi highlighted the importance of collaboration.
"PPB is committed to protection of public health through collaboration with domestic and international partner agencies and organizations," he said.
Dr Medard Bitekyerezo, chairman of NDA, praised the initiative's collaborative approach.
"A multilateral initiative like Operation African Star allows us to exchange and develop best practices as we position ourselves to collectively combat current threats to public health and safety," he said.
The operation not only focused on enforcement but also on training.
Participants received instruction on emerging threats and observed local processes in handling violative shipments.
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Dr Siyoi described the initiative as "an iterative initiative with the potential to develop into an internationally recognised best practice."
Justin Green, assistant commissioner for Criminal Investigations at the FDA, acknowledged the complexities of the global supply chain.
"While the global supply chain has made medicines more accessible, it has simultaneously made it increasingly challenging to identify illicit products and hold bad actors accountable," he said.
The initiative underscored the strength of Kenya and Uganda's partnership, resulting in criminal investigations, product seizures, and intelligence exchanges.
Efforts are ongoing to alert consumers about the dangers of illicit medicines and to plan future enforcement actions and training opportunities.
