Aden Duale.
By Ongaga Ongaga
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Aden Duale, announced sweeping reforms aimed at bolstering Kenya’s pharmaceutical sector during the 46th Annual Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya Conference in Mombasa.
Speaking at Pride Inn Paradise Hotel on Wednesday, Duale stressed that pharmacists play a key role in reaching Universal Health Coverage and driving the Bottom‑Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
He highlighted that pharmacists now serve as researchers, innovators, regulators, educators, and clinical partners rather than only dispensing medications.
The CS underscored the Ministry’s focus on four pillars: Universal Health Coverage via Primary Health Care, local production of health products and technologies, digital health transformation, and security of health commodities.
He emphasized the essential contributions of pharmacists to medication therapy management, pharmacovigilance, antimicrobial stewardship, and pharmaceutical innovation.
Duale reaffirmed the government’s dedication to upholding professional standards, eradicating quackery, and strengthening regulatory bodies such as the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.
He stressed the need to reach WHO Maturity Level 3, positioning Kenya as a regional hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and regulation.
On antimicrobial resistance, Duale warned it remains one of the largest threats to global health security, calling on pharmacists to spearhead stewardship to preserve medicine effectiveness.
He also launched the Health Products and Technologies Local Manufacturing Strategy, aimed at slashing import reliance, generating jobs, and ensuring steady access to essential medicines.
Technology was a major theme, with Duale announcing that from 1 July 2026, three national digital platformsNTTS, Practice360, and Facility360will launch.
These platforms are expected to strengthen pharmaceutical governance, enhance supply‑chain transparency, curb counterfeit drugs, and ensure compliance with national regulations.
“All pharmacists, pharmaceutical technologists, pharmacies, chemists, manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers and healthcare facilities handling pharmaceutical products shall be required to register, integrate and maintain active compliance with these platforms,” Duale warned, noting that non‑compliance would trigger regulatory action.
He urged universities to update pharmacy curricula, ensuring future pharmacists are clinical, digitally savvy, and innovation‑oriented.
Duale highlighted pharmacists’ vital role in maternal and newborn health, insisting that no woman should die from a lack of essential medicines.
He promised the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya that the Ministry would collaborate to strengthen regulation, tackle antimicrobial resistance, boost local manufacturing, harness digital innovation, and further universal access to quality healthcare.
The CS called on participants to develop actionable solutions that inform policy and implementation.