Kenya Pharmacy Society endorses 2026 Good Pharmacy Practice Guidelines
The GPP Guidelines set out standards for key pharmacy services, including the sourcing and storage of medicines, prescription assessment, accurate dispensing, patient counselling, confidentiality and record keeping.
KENYA—The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) has endorsed the 2026 edition of the Good Pharmacy Practice (GPP) Guidelines, describing them as an important framework for improving the quality, safety and accountability of pharmaceutical services in the country.
PSK President Dr Wairimu Njuki said the guidelines provide clear standards for delivering pharmaceutical care and will help promote consistent, professional services across the sector.
She also commended the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) for its efforts to protect patients through initiatives that extend beyond the GPP guidelines.
These include pharmacovigilance, post-market surveillance, product recalls, inspection and licensing of pharmaceutical premises, and oversight of the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Focus on patient safety
The GPP Guidelines set out standards for key pharmacy services, including the sourcing and storage of medicines, prescription assessment, accurate dispensing, patient counselling, confidentiality and record keeping.
They also cover monitoring adverse drug reactions and appropriately referring patients for further care.
Medicines play a critical role in healthcare, but improper storage, prescribing, dispensing or monitoring can expose patients to avoidable harm.
The guidelines therefore seek to strengthen safeguards throughout the medication use process and improve accountability among pharmacy professionals.
For patients, this should mean safer and more consistent pharmaceutical services.
Medicines should come from legitimate and traceable sources, while prescriptions should be assessed to confirm the appropriate medicine, dose and duration and to identify potential drug interactions.
Patients should also receive clear information about how to use and store their medicines. In addition, pharmacy professionals should protect patient information and refer patients for further medical assessment when necessary.
The guidelines also support the reporting and follow-up of suspected adverse drug reactions and medication errors, making each pharmacy encounter an opportunity to identify and address potential risks.
Expanding the role of pharmacy
PSK said Good Pharmacy Practice extends beyond the dispensing of medicines.
Modern pharmaceutical care includes disease prevention, health promotion, prescription assessment, patient counselling, medication monitoring, pharmacovigilance, antimicrobial stewardship, digital pharmacy services, referral and other public health interventions.
The guidelines recognise that pharmaceutical care continues throughout a patient’s medication journey, from obtaining and using medicines to monitoring their effectiveness and safety.
Stakeholder engagement
PSK acknowledged that stakeholders may have questions about interpreting or implementing specific provisions in the guidelines.
The society said it supports structured, inclusive and evidence-based engagement to address legitimate concerns and clarify areas that may require further guidance.
According to PSK, supporting the guidelines does not prevent stakeholders from proposing practical improvements.
However, any review or implementation guidance should continue to prioritise professional standards and patient safety.
The society said it will continue working with the PPB and other healthcare stakeholders to support implementation, strengthen medicine safety and quality assurance, promote pharmacovigilance and improve accountability across the pharmaceutical supply chain.
PSK said its position remains focused on ensuring that patients receive safe, effective and high-quality pharmaceutical care.
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