Kenya Pharmaceutical Association Defends Licensed Practitioner, Warns Against Focus on Isolated Medication Error

The Secretary General of the Kenya Pharmaceutical Association (KPA), Eric Gichane, has criticized recent public communication by the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK), terming it irresponsible, misleading, and a “half-truth” in the wake of a widely circulated medication error incident.

The controversy follows an incident captured on video in which a topical skin preparation was reportedly dispensed instead of an ophthalmic medication to a child. The footage sparked public concern and debate over professional standards within Kenya’s pharmaceutical sector.

However, KPA has cautioned against reducing what it describes as a complex national issue to a single isolated error.

In a statement, Gichane emphasized that in the specific case referenced, both the practitioner and the premises involved were duly licensed. He noted that the error was acknowledged and corrective measures were reportedly taken.

“The real danger is not one licensed professional making an error and being held accountable,” Gichane said. “The real crisis is that thousands of illegal pharmaceutical outlets operate daily with zero accountability. That is where public safety is truly at risk.”

Dispute Over Professional Status

Gichane faulted PSK for allegedly implying that the professional involved in the dispensing error was unregistered or unqualified simply because they were neither a registered pharmacist nor a member of PSK.

“The law is very clear,” he said. “Pharmacy practice in Kenya is legally undertaken by two licensed cadres — a registered pharmacist or an enrolled pharmaceutical technologist. Suggesting otherwise misleads the public.”

He argued that the communication created a false impression that the practitioner was a quack or operating illegally, assertions he strongly refuted.

According to Gichane, the professional in question is a long-serving, duly licensed pharmaceutical technologist and an active member of KPA.

“That distinction matters,” he added, stressing that professional accountability should not be conflated with questions of legal qualification.

Call for Broader Sector Reforms

The KPA official further urged stakeholders and regulators to focus attention on the broader systemic challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector, particularly the proliferation of unlicensed outlets.

He maintained that while professional errors must be addressed transparently and corrective action taken, public discourse should remain factual and avoid undermining licensed practitioners without evidence.

The exchange highlights growing tensions within Kenya’s pharmaceutical sector, as professional bodies navigate issues of regulation, accountability, and public trust.