Cancer drugs are among the medicines most frequently targeted by falsifiers in Kenya, posing a significant risk to patients. According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), fast-moving, high-value medicines, including those used to treat cancer, are particularly vulnerable to counterfeiting. The PPB's chief executive, Ahmed Mohamed, stated that falsifiers target fast-moving medicines and specialist products, such as anticancer medicines.
The PPB has issued several alerts involving falsified cancer medicines, including Herceptin, Avastin, Ibrance, Phesgo, Darzalex, and Jakavi. Laboratory analysis found that some of these products contained no active pharmaceutical ingredient, rendering them ineffective. The PPB has deemed these products unsafe and posing a serious risk to patients. In addition to cancer medicines, the Board has also issued alerts for other medicines, including Flamodip, S-Prazo, and Tamedol.
The number of suspected poor-quality products reported to the PPB has fluctuated in recent years. The Board reported 42 suspected poor-quality products in 2021, which increased to 85 in 2023, then fell to 64 in 2024 and 23 in 2025. Recalls have also increased, from 10 in 2021 to 45 in 2025, with 16 recorded so far in 2026. The PPB attributes part of this increase to stronger surveillance and greater awareness among healthcare workers and the public.
The PPB is conducting a study with educational and research institutions to determine exposure levels to substandard and falsified medical products. The regulator assesses individual reports of suspected adverse effects, treatment failure, and other safety concerns through pharmacovigilance and regulatory processes. Where evidence establishes a link to a poor-quality product, the PPB takes appropriate regulatory action, including quarantining or recalling products and issuing public alerts.
Once a product is confirmed as substandard or falsified, the PPB can order its quarantine or recall and issue a public alert within 48 hours. The Board reconciles quantities distributed against those recovered and destroys products recovered for destruction under its supervision. The PPB's efforts to combat substandard and falsified medical products are part of a broader National Action Plan, which brings together government agencies, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders.
The National Action Plan on substandard and falsified medical products aims to strengthen surveillance, information sharing, supply-chain controls, enforcement, reporting, and investigation. The plan clarifies the responsibilities of various parties involved and seeks to improve the safety and quality of medical products in Kenya. By working together, stakeholders hope to reduce the risk of patients receiving ineffective or counterfeit treatments.
The PPB's efforts to combat counterfeit medicines have led to the discovery of several falsified products in recent years. In 2023, the Board discovered three falsified products, which increased to five in 2024, four in 2025, and three in 2026. The Board's work highlights the ongoing challenge of ensuring the safety and quality of medical products in Kenya and the need for continued vigilance and cooperation among stakeholders.
Key points
- - Cancer medicines are among the most frequently targeted by falsifiers in Kenya. - The PPB has issued several alerts involving falsified cancer medicines, including Herceptin, Avastin, and Ibrance. - The National Action Plan on substandard and falsified medical products aims to strengthen surveillance and improve the safety and quality of medical products in Kenya.
