Kenyans may be unknowingly introducing toxins into their bodies by using highly touted herbal-based products.
Most products offered as supplements or medicines may not be safe after all because safety standards have not been established.
Hezekiah Chepkwani, director of the National Institute for Quality Control, called the preliminary results of an ongoing investigation into its safety “alarming.”
Dr Chepkwani addressed pharmaceutical industry stakeholders in Nyeri County on Thursday about the prevalence of counterfeit medicines in the country, citing an East Asian herb found to contain 40 times the strength of traditional contraceptives. You mentioned contraceptives.
Children born to parents who used contraceptives reported unusual characteristics, such as the development of male breasts.
In addition to herbal-based medicines, health products commonly sold in many outlets have also been found to be harmful.
The craze for using such products is highest in the country following the exaggerated marketing strategies adopted by dealers.
The agency behind this investigation is the WHO-accredited Pharmacy Poisons Board Quality Control Unit, which ensures the quality and safety of medicines and other products in Kenya.
On Thursday, Dr. Chepkwani pointed out that ensuring quality is a complex process.
“The safety factors for such products have not been established due to challenges with respect to analysis. The methods of such analysis matter, but the information coming out of research on the products is very disturbing,” he said. Told.
Edward Abuwao of the Pharmacy and Toxic Substances Enforcement Agency said dealers were resisting attempts to test their products, arguing that it was outside the agency’s scope.
Most require registration with the Ministry of Culture, and testing of some herbal products is not mandatory.
However, Dr Abwao assured Kenyans that the loophole is being closed as the government is developing guidelines for the registration of such products.
Dr Chepkwani said the biggest challenge was not the presence of counterfeit goods, but the presence of substandard products.
