Pharmacies and Chemists are among the weak link in the war against drug abuse.

According to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua some pharmacies have been selling drugs over the counter without prescription thus contributing to abuse of drugs

Speaking during the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya's International Scientific Conference 2024 in Mombasa, Gachagua said existence of rogue pharmacists in the industry pose a major challenge in the war against drug abuse.

"I want to say that I'm leading the fight against drug and substance use. And one of our weak points are pharmacies and chemists, some properly licensed and run by professions yet they dispense drugs that are supposed to dispensed against prescription over the counter" said Gachagua.

Adding " We have alot of young people even in this town of Mombasa getting alot of syrups and mixing them with other things to get a very dangerous combination that is harmful to our Children. I want to call upon all those professionals who run pharmacies and chemists to live up to your oath and do the right thing. Please don't dispense drugs that are supposed to be dispensed by prescription over the counter "

The deputy president expressing government’s willingness to deploy security forces in all the 47 counties to work with the licensed pharmacists to root out those conducting the business illegally.

“There are quacks who have opened pharmacists that are not licensed and not ran by professionals. We are asking you to work with us and we are willing to pair you with our county security teams to crack down on unlicensed pharmacists and chemists. Shut them down and take those running them to jail.”

“We are ready to give you law enforcement officers in all the 47 counties to shut down all unlicensed facilities across the country. Those professionals who lease out their licenses, how do you do that? It is insulting to yourself. Those are merchants who don’t care. Please be professional and let us respect our professionals. Don’t allow merchants in such a noble profession?”

The deputy president also appealed to members of the Pharmaceutical  Society of Kenya to exercise the moral obligation of not allowing their licensed facilities to be the dens where drugs that are harmful to humanity get their way into the hands of unprescribed users.

He noted the need for everyone to exercise individual responsibility and contribute where possible in the effort to rid the country of the drug abuse menace.