Nairobi, October 5, 2025 – The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has strongly denied claims circulating online that Kenya is facing a shortage of more than 21,000 essential medicines, including life-saving drugs such as insulin, cancer treatments, HIV therapies, and antibiotics.
In a detailed statement released on Sunday, the PPB dismissed the reports as “misleading, deceptive, and designed to cause unnecessary panic among Kenyans.”
Over 9,000 Approved Medicines Still Available
The regulator, which oversees the safety and regulation of medical products in Kenya, clarified that there is no blockade of medicines in the country.
Instead, approximately 9,000 registered medical products that meet both national and international quality and safety standards remain available for manufacture, importation, and distribution across Kenya.
“Contrary to these falsehoods, there is no blockade of medicines in Kenya. The Board has duly retained around 9,000 registered products that meet global standards of safety, efficacy, and quality. These remain fully accessible,” the PPB stated.
Why the Panic?
The clarification came after viral reports suggested that recent regulatory changes by the PPB had halted drug importation, sparking fears of shortages that could endanger over 1.5 million diabetes patients and millions more suffering from cancer and chronic illnesses.
Health experts had warned that even short-term disruptions could devastate patients reliant on continuous medication.
Routine Regulatory Renewal – Not a Ban
The PPB explained that the process in question was simply a routine renewal of market authorisations, as required under the Pharmacy and Poisons (Registration of Health Products and Technologies) Rules, 2022.
Under these rules, every drug’s registration must be renewed every five years to ensure compliance with evolving safety and quality standards.
“All market authorisation holders were advised to renew their registrations by 31 December 2025. This is a globally accepted practice to maintain quality control – not a suspension or ban,” PPB emphasized.
Blame Cast on Cartels and Misinformation
The Board further accused “unscrupulous individuals and cartels” of spreading falsehoods to undermine the government’s efforts to crack down on illegal importers and ensure only quality-assured medicines reach Kenyan patients.
While some industry groups have raised concerns over renewal timelines, warning of potential disruptions if licences lapse, PPB maintained that its system is fully functional and committed to smooth operations.
Assurance to Kenyans
Reassuring the public, the PPB reiterated its commitment to guaranteeing uninterrupted access to safe and effective medicines nationwide.
“The Pharmacy and Poisons Board remains steadfast in ensuring continuous access to safe, quality, and effective medical products for all Kenyans. We urge citizens to disregard misinformation and support efforts to safeguard national health,” the statement concluded.
