Kenya mandates digital tracking for imported medicines to curb counterfeits

Kenya’s Ministry of Health has announced a regulatory overhaul to combat counterfeit and substandard medicines by requiring all pharmaceutical imports to carry unique serialized digital identifiers. Unveiled at the Kenya Health Summit in Nairobi, the new framework mandates that imported medical products utilize a blockchain-backed tracking system to create a tamper-resistant digital record from manufacture through distribution to the point of dispensing.

Dr. Joyce Wamicwe, Technical Lead for Digital Health and Informatics at the Digital Health Agency, stated that the initiative involves working with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to implement internationally recognized data matrix codes. This replaces conventional barcodes with more comprehensive identifiers to ensure products can be uniquely verified throughout the supply chain.

The measure aims to address the circulation of falsified antiretroviral medicines, HIV testing kits, and other lifestyle drugs through unregulated outlets. While a transition period is currently underway, the government intends for all medicines entering the country to comply with these identification requirements starting January 1, 2027. The system will also support the development of a National Product Catalogue to serve as a standard reference for health products.