Pharmacists have opposed a plan by MPs to amend the law to establish a  drugs authority without their involvement.

Yesterday, they sought an audience with the chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Health Robert Pukose to establish who is behind a Private Member’s Bill he is pushing.

Under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK), the medics expressed suspicion that those sponsoring the amendment to the Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap 244) were doing it for selfish reasons.

The Kenya Drugs Authority Bill, 2023, currently in Parliament, aims at creating a National Drugs Authority.

PSK president Dr Louis Machogu (pictured) said that whereas the society is not opposed to the creation of such an authority, they felt that the process was not going through the right procedures.

“PSK is glad that there is a move towards creating a clear roadmap in the regulation of drugs, medicines, and medical devices,” he said, noting that even as they support the creation of  an authority, they were not ready for one that does not take into account patients safety.