By Peter Mbacia
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has introduced a safety code which will assist clients in accessing quality medicines from qualified pharmacists running registered chemists or pharmacies countrywide.
The safety code, which can be accessed through a free mobile phone SMS code 21031, enables any client/patient to ascertain the identity (name and location) of bonafide pharmacists who are registered by the board. Speaking to Health Business Magazine, the board’s Head of Pharmacy Practice, Dr. Kariuki Gachoki said: “All registered pharmacists are expected to display their registration details conspicuously to enable members of the public to ascertain bonafide pharmacists and registered pharmacies and or chemists countrywide.”
“The free SMS code 21031 gives all the registration details of bonafide pharmacists, their premises location and aims at weeding out quacks who run illegal pharmacies/chemists who are not registered by the Board and are endangering the lives of the public,” Dr. Gachoki added.
Dr. Gachoki warned members of the public to avoid buying medicines from illegal premises saying this would endanger their lives since they are not authorised by law to dispense medicines. “The safety code number that is allocated to any pharmacy/chemist by the board does not change regardless of the personnel leaving the premises,” he said.
The SMS code 21031 enables members of the public to access PPB database (online) and name of the premise, the pharmacist in-charge and the exact geographical location of the premises.
“The safety code number cannot be substituted and allows members of the public to know exactly who is serving them and should demand to be served by the person (pharmacist) whose name, practice license and picture appears after texting the SMS code 21031,” Dr Gachoki noted.
The Head of Pharmacy Practice urged all pharmacists to ensure they displayed their valid licenses on big banners which should be displayed on the windows of their premises. “The SMS code 21031 is a free service which was introduced two years ago to assist members of the public to know the identity of the pharmacist and whether the premises where they are operating from is legal,” added the doctor.
He said PPB pays for the safety code which is provided free of charge to members of the public.Dr. Gachoki said the free service was introduced by the board following complaints by members of the public that they were unable to ascertain which pharmacy/chemist was legal and which was being run by a quack. The SMS code 21031 is a safety measure which protects members of the public from quacks, Dr. Gachoki adds
