Friday 04th September, 2026 09:40 AM|
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has outlined new Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) Standards that will introduce stricter requirements for pharmaceutical practice in Kenya, with the framework set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
Writing on X on Friday, September 4, 2026, the Board says the standards are designed to strengthen professional oversight, improve patient safety and promote safe and accountable pharmaceutical care across the country. The reforms come amid growing concerns over inappropriate dispensing of medicines, antimicrobial misuse and pharmaceutical facilities operating without adequate professional supervision.
“Get the facts on the Good Pharmacy Practice Standards. Developed through extensive consultation, the standards will strengthen professional oversight, curb unsafe dispensing and antimicrobial misuse, and promote safe, accountable pharmaceutical care from 1 January 2027,” the Pharmacy and Poisons Board stated.
According to the PPB, the GPP Standards were not developed overnight. The regulatory framework was developed over more than five years and subjected to 11 different iterations before being finalised.
The Board says the process involved consultations with national and county governments, professional associations, academic institutions, healthcare institutions, industry players and other partners. The consultation process is intended to ensure that the standards respond to the realities of pharmaceutical practice while maintaining patient safety as the central objective.
The PPB has anchored the standards on Articles 43 and 46 of the Constitution, alongside the Pharmacy and Poisons Act. Article 43 guarantees every person the right to the highest attainable standard of health, including healthcare services, while Article 46 provides for consumer rights, including access to goods and services of reasonable quality.
The new standards are therefore expected to place greater emphasis on accountability among pharmacy professionals and pharmaceutical facilities.
One of the key areas targeted is licence leasing, a practice in which a professional’s credentials may be used to provide regulatory cover for a facility without the professional exercising appropriate oversight.
The PPB also intends to strengthen action against inappropriate dispensing of medicines, antimicrobial misuse and pharmaceutical facilities operating without professional supervision.
These measures are particularly significant at a time when antimicrobial resistance remains a growing public health concern. Inappropriate use of antibiotics can contribute to the development of drug-resistant infections, making some illnesses increasingly difficult and expensive to treat.
The standards are also expected to reinforce the principle that pharmaceutical care must be provided within clearly defined professional responsibilities.
The PPB has previously stated that it is strengthening regulation of pharmacy practice, including premises licensing, continuing professional development and compliance monitoring. The Board has also warned that unlicensed pharmaceutical operations and unqualified practitioners will face regulatory action.
Why the new pharmacy standards matter
For ordinary patients, the changes could have a direct impact on the quality and safety of services offered at pharmacies and other pharmaceutical facilities.
A pharmacy is often the first point of contact for Kenyans seeking treatment for common illnesses. Stronger professional supervision could help reduce medication errors, inappropriate dispensing and the sale or use of medicines outside established professional guidelines.
The PPB’s existing Good Pharmacy Practice framework is intended to promote quality pharmaceutical care in both private and public pharmacy settings, with patient health and quality of life at the centre.
However, implementation of the new standards is likely to require careful engagement with professionals and industry players.
The reforms have already generated debate within the pharmaceutical sector, particularly over the role and responsibilities of pharmaceutical technologists. The Kenya Pharmaceutical Association has raised objections to aspects of the latest draft, arguing that some provisions could restrict the role of pharmaceutical technologists in higher-level facilities.
The Ministry of Health, however, has defended the standards, saying they do not prevent diploma holders from practising within their lawful scope. Instead, the government says the reforms seek to match the qualifications of professionals responsible for pharmaceutical facilities with the complexity and risks of services being offered.
With January 1, 2027, now set as the implementation date, the focus will increasingly shift from drafting the standards to preparing pharmacies, pharmaceutical professionals and health facilities for compliance.
Ultimately, the success of Kenya’s Good Pharmacy Practice Standards will depend not only on the rules themselves but also on consistent enforcement, professional cooperation and public awareness.
For patients, the objective is straightforward: when they walk into a pharmacy, they should be confident that the medicines they receive are dispensed appropriately, handled safely and provided under proper professional oversight.
