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{
"id": 1336966,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1336966/?format=api",
"text_counter": 178,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dagoretti North, ODM",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Beatrice Elachi",
"speaker": null,
"content": "else. But once you go into the chemist, you realise there is a set of medications that they just keep on their shelves. Some of these cases have become serious such that young people just point out and know that if they walk into a certain chemist, they will find the drug that will ease them of their addiction to drugs. We must remember that as we agree with the Authority and strengthen it, we should also ensure that we re-look at the pharmaceuticals that we have licensed to sell drugs in this country. We have very many generic drugs that people are taking and it is becoming very difficult because when you are sick, you are getting resistant to some of the drugs that we have today. I wish as we move with the Kenya Drugs Authority that we ask ourselves… There is this disease that has just come that keeps you every time on a kit of H.pylori, and every time when you go to a doctor, you are told you are sick with H.pylori. You are then put on a kit for 14 days. After the 14 days, you think you are done, but in two months, the doctor tells you that you should go back to the same kit. Slowly by slowly, we are just entrenching some poison in our bodies. Even as we bring in this Authority and want to enhance the capacity of those who deal with drugs in our country, it is time we looked at our Asian brothers who have these pharmaceuticals in Industrial Area doing some very interesting business but killing us slowly by slowly. You walk into a hospital and you are unable to say anything. I am hoping that in the Bill, we shall have a way that when they want to transit, and I know Dr Nyikal is here and will help us, to a new version of a drug, is it not important to do public participation to Kenyans to know? At the moment, they just come, release and say Calpol is not working, then they remove from circulation. Same applies to Brufen. If you go to Europe, you will find there is very serious public participation when you are introducing a new drug and when you are removing a drug from the shelf, so that if it becomes an issue, then that citizen has a right to sue and be paid. We have seen that happening in Europe, but here in Kenya, we have become like a dumping ground. I went to Ghana a few days ago and if there is a place where they have safeguarded, it is the issue of medication of drugs. But here, anybody can do the business of a chemist. You wonder whether we have regulations and whether we monitor them now that health has been devolved. Who remained up there to ensure quality assurance in everything that we do within the state of health? There is need for very serious policy. Even as we bring in the Authority, there must be a way of regulating so that pharmaceuticals do public participation as per the Constitution so that Kenyans understand. We are agreeing with the Bill, but there are many loopholes so far that many Kenyans are suffering. Can we also look at the pricing because when you visit a doctor, you are given a list of drugs that cost more than Ksh50,000 for a month’s prescription. In every family in Kenya, 80 per cent are always on Accra Road, where we have the best affordable and accessible chemist. So, everyone runs there and you find a huge line. If you go right now, you will be shocked how people have come from all over looking for affordable drugs that you can only find at this chemist, which I will not mention the name. It is around Accra Road. It is a business that is booming. The other thing that we need to request and I am hoping the Chairman will look at as we bring in the Authority, is a way we can bring wellness and prevention so that we can prevent taking drugs by using something else. Is there a way that the Authority will not just be talking about drugs, but ensuring that citizens are healthy and that it is not a must to take drugs every time? I can use vegetable and fruits as an alternative to my drugs. Even as we look at this, I want us to look at who controls the pricing because every day you find each chemist with its own figures. You will be surprised that if you go to big malls in Gigiri, it is cheaper buying a drug there than at our local chemists. That tells you how sad it is for Kenyans. People have realised that when you enter into any hospital, you will be treated, but they have a pharmacy somewhere where they are doing business and so all the profits are The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}