Nakhumicha sued over management of pharmacies

Health CS Susan Nakhumicha addressing the media during the flag-off ceremony for the asset verification process at Afya House a pivotal step towards transitioning to Social Health Authority(SHA) on May 13, 2024 [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Pharmacists have dragged Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha to court in a new battle over management of level four hospital pharmacies in the country.

The Kenya Pharmaceutical Association (KPA) sued Nakhumicha and Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) over the move to block the associations's members from either running or heading pharmacies in the hospitals.

The lobby in its case filed before the High Court stated that PPB had until this year issued licences to its members to run or supervise level four hospital pharmacies.

However, the court heard that the board wrote a directive for its officials to reject all applications from the association members.

KPA claimed that it sought Nakhumicha's intervention but their plea fell on deaf ears.

According to KPA, no one can tell how the ministry is approving licences as the process is obscure.

The association's secretary-general Eric Gichane told court that it has at least 12,000 members some who have been licensed to run or supervise level four and five hospital pharmacies.

However, he stated, the PPB board and Nakhumicha have changed the yardstick without communication.