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| Photo/Coutersy. |
The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) has distanced itself from a pharmacy staff member captured in a viral video allegedly dispensing the wrong medication to a baby.
The incident, which sparked public outrage online, involved a mother who confronted a pharmacy attendant after she was reportedly given a skin ointment instead of prescribed eye drops for her child. According to the video circulating on social media, the mother said she applied the medication to the baby’s eyes as instructed, only to later discover it was meant for skin use. The staff member is seen apologizing during the confrontation.
In a statement issued on Friday, PSK President Dr. Wairimu Mbogo confirmed that the individual seen in the video is not a licensed pharmacist and is not registered with the society. PSK clarified that the person is neither a member nor recognized as a qualified pharmacist under its records.
The society has called on the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) to investigate the matter and determine whether the pharmacy involved is operating within the required legal and professional standards.
PSK emphasized that the incident should be treated as a serious patient safety concern and urged stricter enforcement of regulations governing pharmaceutical practice. The society also cautioned the public and media against referring to all pharmacy workers as pharmacists without verifying their professional credentials.
The professional body reiterated the importance of proper prescription verification and adherence to dispensing guidelines to prevent similar errors in the future.
