The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has called for greater innovation and specialised practice in Kenya’s pharmaceutical sector following a sharp increase in the country’s pharmacy workforce over the past decade.

Data released by the board on June 28, 2026, shows the number of registered pharmacists increased 15-fold between the 2014/15 and 2024/25 financial years, while the number of pharmaceutical technologists grew eight-fold over the same period.

The Board said cumulative registrations now stand at 2,446 pharmacists and 7,030 pharmaceutical technologists.

“As the profession continues to grow, the next phase should focus on innovation, specialisation and expanded scopes of practice to meet the evolving healthcare needs of Kenyans,” the PPB said.

Pharmacy workforce records steady growth

The figures were published in an infographic titled “Pharmacy Workforce in Kenya in a Decade (2014/15 – 2024/25),” which tracks annual registrations and cumulative growth of pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists.

According to the board, the increase reflects continued investment in strengthening Kenya’s health workforce and expanding access to pharmaceutical services.

The data shows consistent annual growth in registrations over the last 10 years, resulting in a larger pool of trained pharmacy professionals serving across the country.

The PPB said the next phase of growth should be driven by innovation, specialisation and expanded scopes of practice as healthcare needs continue to evolve.

Regulatory milestones and sector expansion

The workforce growth comes alongside broader expansion within the pharmaceutical sector.

During the 46th Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya Annual Scientific Conference, the board reported that registered pharmaceutical premises increased from 6,852 in 2018 to 10,497 by June 2026.

Licensed pharmacy professionals also rose from 9,031 to 15,397 during the same period.

The PPB further reported that 7,255 pharmaceutical products are currently eligible for importation or local manufacture, while 76 per cent of retained products meet market standards.

The board also said it reduced the backlog in marketing authorisation applications by more than 80 per cent as part of efforts to improve regulatory efficiency.

Board maintains focus on medicine safety

Alongside workforce expansion, the PPB has continued to issue public alerts on falsified medicines circulating in the market.

In May 2026, the Board warned Kenyans about a falsified batch of the breast cancer medicine Phesgo. According to the PPB, the fake product appeared as a white powder instead of the genuine ready-to-use liquid solution.

The Board has also issued alerts involving other cancer medicines, including palbociclib, and continues to advise members of the public to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies.

PPB Acting Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Mohamed has urged the public to report suspected counterfeit medicines via the Board’s reporting portal, the USSD code *271#, or the Board’s hotline.

The latest workforce data comes as Kenya continues to strengthen its pharmaceutical sector through increased professional registrations, expansion of licensed facilities and continued regulatory oversight aimed at improving access to quality medicines and pharmaceutical services.