Fear of deaths, faulty HIV tests as fake health items circulate

Substandard and falsified medical products also cause treatment failure. [Courtesy]

It is feared that dozens of Kenyans have been losing their lives because of falsified medicines and substandard health products in the market, coupled with questionable HIV test results.

Substandard and falsified medical products also cause treatment failure, contribute to antimicrobial resistance and lack of trust in health system. Among flagged falsified products circulating include ARVs used to prevent HIV infection, Viagra (blue pill), HIV rapid testing kits, and blood thinners administered during dialysis.

This is according to investigation findings by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB). The details emerged on Wednesday during the launch of Kenya National Action Plan on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products.

Head of post market surveillance at PPB Dr Edward Abwao cited an incident of kidney patient in Kilifi who almost lost life after being put on blood thinners during dialysis. The patient’s life was saved by a nurse.

“A nurse noted that blood was clotting and immediately reported. She stopped the procedure and gave a different medicine,” said Abwao during release of the report finding.

The case, he said was reported in Kilifi, and is ongoing in court. The falsified ARV (PreP) that has been circulating according to PPB puts people living with HIV at risk of treatment failure, drug resistance, and worse health outcomes.

Falsified HIV test kits give false results, leading to wrong treatment, missed infections and lost opportunities for care and prevention. The blood thinner meanwhile are reported to cause severe bleeding. Organ damage and death.

Nevertheless, the falsified Viagra for erectile dysfunction can be ineffective, unsafe and may contain harmful ingredients. “Men are in danger. This was discovered in Kenya,” said Abwao.

Governor Muthomi Njuki, who represented the Council of Governors (CoG) shared his disappointment in circulation of falsified HIV diagnostics. “I am shocked to learn we’ve fake HIV test kits in the market,” said Muthomi.

National Empowerment Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya (NEPHAK) said it is worrying circulation of substandard HIV diagnostics and treatment drugs. NEPHAK executive director Nelson Otwoma cited a case where somebody went to court after he was tested Positive falsely and put on treatment. 

But he said with such reports come up about 60 percent of people living with HIV go back to retest (wasting kits, reagents and time). Also, some 20 percent of individuals who already tested and who are already in treatment lapse back into denial and stop treatment.

“Yes, we have had reports of fake HIV products. With such, people loose trust in HIV testing and nobody goes to test,” warned Otwoma.

Governor Muthomi said it is more worrying that patients are dying, because they have been failed by the system.

“Most of the human lives lost, is because not they did not have medicine or money, but simply because the system failed them,” added the governor. Further he also raised concern over circulation of substandard P2, that are used to prevent pregnancies.

“I have come cross this in my county. We are having many fake P2 in the market. This means we’ve our girls getting unwanted pregnancies because the system has failed them,” he added.

Data from the PPB shows that between 2021 and 2025, the regulator received 1,413 product quality complaints, resulting in the recall of 99 medical products. It also recorded 32,833 reports of adverse drug reactions between 2011 and 2025.

Additionally, 18 alerts were issued on suspected falsified medicines from 2020 to 2026. Reports and recalls have increased over time, according to the regulatory body because of enhanced surveillance and reporting systems, to keep Kenyans safe. Abwao said the issue of falsified health products is not only a Kenyan, but global concern. This is because the products are manufactured and supplied globally.

For example in 2022, over 60 children died in Gambia after taking substandard (contaminated syrups), while over 180 deaths were reported in Cameroon, linked to falsified Covid-19 vaccines. Elsewhere in Nigeria, there was repeated seizures of falsified malaria and antibiotics in multiple states.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the government has stopped parallel importation of health products. “since October 2025, no single parallel importation has been approved,” said Duale. 

The CS emphasised that strengthening PPB system is one of the reforms in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Surveillance to stop substandard health products, he said will intensify.

“PPB has intensified market surveillance, strengthened regulatory oversight, enhanced stakeholder engagement and improved transparency in detecting and responding to substandard and falsified medical products,” said Duale.

Since January 2025, PPB has coordinated 58 recalls of substandard medical products and issued 14 rapid public alerts on falsified medical products. “Some may interpret these numbers as evidence of a worsening problem. I take a different view, in the last one year. I am very happy,” said the CS.

The CS said the move to flag off falsified products has political backing, for the safety and interest of Kenyan patients. “You either adhere to law, or look for another country to do business,” said Duale, in reference to illegal traders circulating the products in the country.

“If fuel is found to be bad, it looses its engine. But when a wrong product gets to a patient, they die,” added Duale.