Duale Clarifies New Pharmacy Standards After Diploma Holders’ Protests

The Ministry of Health has clarified the new pharmacy standards after Diploma in Pharmacy holders staged demonstrations over the 2026 Good Pharmacy Practice Standards, which will take effect on January 1, 2027.

In a press statement issued on September 3, 2026, the Ministry said both diploma and degree holders can continue practising or working at any level of the health system, provided they are duly enrolled or registered, licensed and operate within their lawful scope of practice.

“The Standards do not bar any category of pharmacy professionals (whether diploma or degree holders) from practising or working at any level of the health system, provided they are duly enrolled or registered, licensed and operate within their lawful scope of practice,” the Ministry said.

The Ministry issued the clarification after Diploma in Pharmacy holders demonstrated over the pharmacy standards and raised concerns about their impact on their professional roles.

Pharmacy Standards and Managers’ Role

However, the pharmacy standards distinguish between working as a pharmacy professional at a particular level of care and serving as a pharmacy manager responsible for the overall professional and regulatory oversight of a facility.

“Pharmacy professionals of different cadres will continue to work together across the health system. However, the minimum qualification of the superintendent must correspond to the nature, complexity and level of risk of the pharmaceutical services offered,” the Ministry said.

As a result, the Ministry said the person responsible for a facility must have qualifications and competencies that match the nature, complexity and risks of the pharmaceutical services provided.

“This is a competency-based patient-safety measure. As services become more specialised and the risks to patients increase, the qualifications and competencies of the person bearing overall responsibility (the superintendent) must increase accordingly,” the Ministry said.

Additionally, the pharmacy standards align with the Ministry’s Human Resources for Health Norms and Standards Guidelines for the Health Sector.

The guidelines link staffing and professional responsibility to the services provided at each level of care.

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Standards Target Illegal Practices

The Ministry said the pharmacy standards primarily seek to protect patients and improve the quality of pharmaceutical care.

Furthermore, the reforms aim to strengthen the sector’s ability to address illegal and unethical practices, including:

• Renting or leasing professional licenses
• Operating pharmaceutical premises without proper professional oversight
• Inappropriate dispensing, misuse of antimicrobials, and diversion or misuse of narcotic and psychotropic substances.

The pharmacy standards also draw their legal basis from existing laws and constitutional provisions.

The Ministry cited Articles 43 and 46 of the Constitution, which provide for the right to the highest attainable standard of health and protection of consumer rights, including access to quality services and protection of health and safety.

Moreover, the Ministry cited Section 3B(3)(a) of the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, Cap 244, which requires the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to promote pharmacy practice that complies with universally accepted norms and values.

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Ministry Defends Consultation Process

The pharmacy standards followed an extensive development process that lasted more than five years and went through 11 iterations, alongside multiple rounds of stakeholder engagement and technical reviews.

Stakeholder consultations brought together the Ministry of Health, county governments, professional associations representing diploma and degree holders, academia, public and private healthcare institutions, the pharmaceutical industry and development partners.

In developing the standards, the Ministry considered and incorporated stakeholder views where appropriate, taking into account the law, professional competencies, patient safety and the wider public health interest.

“The Ministry remains committed to constructive engagement with all pharmacy professionals and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board will continue providing clarification and implementation support ahead of the commencement of the Standards on 1st January 2027,” the statement concluded.

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A photo of Nurses dancing outside Afya House in Nairobi during the Kenya National Union of Nurses workers’ protests demanding the implementation of their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and calling on the Council of Governors (CoG) to sign and honor the negotiated deal on July 30, 2026. Photo/ Evans Habil/NMG