Health Ministry warns pharmacies face license revocation and criminal prosecution for selling sildenafil and other prescription medicines without authorization
The Ministry of Health has unleashed a nationwide enforcement blitz targeting the illegal sale of prescription-only medicines, threatening pharmacies and individuals with severe legal consequences for dispensing drugs like sildenafil without valid prescriptions.
Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale delivered the stern warning on Tuesday, declaring that unauthorized dispensing of prescription medicines poses both a legal violation and a grave public health threat to Kenyans.
“Any pharmacy, wholesaler, distributor, or individual found offering or dispensing Sildenafil without a prescription is liable to regulatory and legal sanctions including seizure of products, suspension or revocation of licences, and disciplinary or criminal proceedings,” Duale announced.
The Cabinet Secretary’s statement targets a widespread practice where Kenyan pharmacies routinely sell prescription-only medicines over the counter without requiring doctor’s orders, a dangerous trend that health authorities now aim to eliminate.
New Digital Tracking System Launches January 2026
To enhance oversight and curb the misuse of prescription drugs, the ministry has introduced a mandatory online system requiring the declaration of batch and lot numbers for all imported, exported, and locally manufactured health products.
The revolutionary new system will take effect on January 1, 2026, and promises to strengthen tracking of prescription medicines throughout Kenya’s entire pharmaceutical supply chain.
Health officials believe the digital platform will close loopholes that currently allow prescription drugs to flow freely into the market without proper documentation or medical justification.
The ministry also confirmed that tracking and authentication standards for health products have been finalized and await formal adoption following consultations with industry stakeholders.
“Once formalised, this will enhance traceability, accountability, and visibility across the pharmaceutical supply chain,” Duale explained.
The pending standards represent the government’s most ambitious attempt yet to bring transparency and accountability to a pharmaceutical industry long plagued by regulatory gaps and enforcement challenges.
Enforcement Already Underway Across Kenya
The Health Ministry revealed that enforcement operations have already intensified through targeted inspections of wholesalers, distributors, and retail pharmacies, including meticulous checks on prescription records.
These surprise inspections mark a departure from the previously lax oversight that allowed many pharmacies to operate with minimal scrutiny of their dispensing practices.
The ministry added that practitioners found violating the prescription drug rules face immediate referral to the Board’s Ethics and Disciplinary Committee (EDC) for regulatory action.
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