Kenya’s pharmaceutical fraternity applauds court ruling requiring all Level 4, 5 and 6 hospitals to be superintended by degree-level pharmacists, saying the move will strengthen patient safety, improve the quality of care, and align Kenya’s health system with international standards.
The judgment, delivered last Friday, upholds a May 22, 2024 directive from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), which mandates that all Level 4, 5, and 6 hospitals must be superintended by degree-level pharmacists. This decision effectively ends the previous practice of allowing diploma-level pharmaceutical technologists to manage these high-risk pharmacy services.
Dr. Wairimu Mbogo, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK), hailed the ruling as a significant advancement towards guaranteeing Kenyans their constitutional right to the highest attainable standard of health.
Dr. Mbogo clarified the core issue: the complexity of care in higher-level hospitals—particularly for managing Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like cancer, diabetes, and hypertension—demands the specialized clinical training of a university-educated pharmacist.
Pharmacists: Undergo an intensive five-year degree program, complete a mandatory one-year internship, and pass a national exam.
Pharmaceutical Technologists: Complete approximately three years of diploma-level training.
“For pharmacists, we don’t just handle products. We provide services that directly relate to patient outcomes,” Dr. Mbogo stated. She emphasized that critical functions like medication therapy management, comprehensive patient counselling, and the prevention of medication errors require the advanced clinical expertise possessed by pharmacists.
The PPB’s directive was challenged in court by a group of pharmaceutical technologists who argued for the continuation of the status quo. However, the court ruled definitively in favour of the PPB and PSK, affirming that all Level 4, 5, and 6 hospitals must be led by a pharmacist.
Dr. Mbogo stressed that the ruling upholds the principle that cost cannot supersede patient safety. “The constitutional right to the highest attainable standard of health is non-negotiable,” she asserted.
She warned that choosing “cheaper options over quality care” puts the country on the wrong path.
PSK anticipates immediate, tangible benefits for patients, especially those relying on county hospitals for chronic disease management.
“This means our diabetes and hypertensive patients should start receiving medication therapy management and counselling,” Dr. Mbogo explained, “We expect better treatment outcomes, fewer medication errors, and reduced risks of end-stage disease.”
PSK Senior Fellow and lecturer Dr. Domnick Karanja supported the ruling, noting that Kenya introduced the Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in 1973 specifically to align with international standards, where pharmacy technicians support, but do not independently run, high-risk facilities.
Addressing potential resistance, Dr. Mbogo, dispelled any claims of a personnel shortage.
“We have nine schools of pharmacy and produce about 500 graduates every year,” she confirmed, noting that approximately 2,000 registered pharmacists are currently unemployed or under-employed a situation partly due to facilities previously opting for cheaper staff when the law permitted it.
PSK urged county governments to comply swiftly, offering to support recruitment and implementation of the new standards.
“Let us comply and ensure Kenyans get the quality of pharmaceutical care they deserve,” Dr. Mbogo concluded.
