Wanakazi,

since I put this email out I have received tremendous response from readers in this forum and I hasten to say encouraging but deeply disturbing responses.

Encouraging because some of the response has come from very senior medical practitioners from within and without Kenya who have been and are still trying to promote good practice in lines with the expected code of conduct and professional oath that the medics swear to, when they are initiated to join other practitioners . It is however very disturbing to note the following:

There is no proper or such thing as regulations regarding control and distribution of drugs…. in-fact there is half a page on what you need/requirements to register a pharmacy

The few medics who are making efforts to instill some professionalism in the sector are extremely frustrated by the arrogance displayed by the board executives

Drug inspectors are in the business of taking kitu kidogo to allow counterfeits into our health service.

Mass poisoning through the health service has been going on in Kenya for a very long time and the executives in the sector are so complacent that they have adopted the attitude of take whatever action you wish and see how far you can go!!

As it stands many cases go unreported and even if anybody was to attempt doing so, there is no workable mechanism of doing it. The existing scanty regulations are never enforced because the practice environment is not conducive.

Something must be done to save Kenyans. If medics cannot live up to their oath of ethics then they have no business being in this noble profession.

There are several diaries coming up involving the medics in Kenya, if anybody in this forum has an experience to share with reference to bad practice in the health service then you are invited to forward the information. Your information could form part of very high level discussions in the medical sector.

I have copied the Pharmacy Board.

Thank you all,

Paul

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POOR CONTROL OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS COULD BE SENDING MANY KENYANS TO THEIR GRAVES TOO EARLY.

Every time you visit a doctor or a pharmacist in Kenya you could be paying for your ticket to early reception at the grave. When I was last back home in Kenya, I noticed
. . .

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Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:38:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: PAUL ODERA
Subject: MASS POISIONING