PSK Gala Celebrates Pharmaceutical Excellence Amid Landmark Policy Win

By John Toris

The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) hosted its prestigious Dinner and Gala Awards on Thursday, an evening that celebrated outstanding achievement within the industry while pointing to a transformative court ruling set to reshape public healthcare delivery.

PHOTO: PHOTO: PSK President Dr. Wairimu Mbogo addressing members of the press during the PSK Gala Dinner at PrideInn Azure, Nairobi

The event, attended by pharmacists, healthcare leaders, and government officials, served a dual purpose: to honour professional excellence and to mark a historic victory for the sector. PSK President Dr. Wairimu Mbogo centered her keynote address on a recent legal mandate that will place pharmacists in all Level 4 hospitals and above.

"This year we've had a very big win where the court determined that pharmacists superintend the level four hospitals and above," Dr. Mbogo announced. "So what this means for Kenyans is that anyone with non-communicable diseases, we expect that you will receive an extra support in terms of medication therapy. Our pharmacists now will be available to do medication counselling and medication therapy management."

Dr. Mbogo framed the decision as a critical advancement for chronic disease management and patient safety. "We are expecting that our NCD control which is diabetes, hypertension should be better over the years," she stated, adding that "the government is actually committing to pay for services that ensure that patient medication errors are minimized."

The President also addressed the ruling's significant impact on the profession itself, highlighting its potential to absorb skilled but underutilised talent. "The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya is an umbrella body of 5000 pharmacists. Many of them jobless because of the scope of practice. But now with the level 4 hospitals being mandated to have pharmacists, we expect that services will be clearer for patients," she explained.

PHOTO: Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga of the State Department for Medical Services addressing members of the press during the PSK Gala Dinner at PrideInn Azure, Nairobi

The celebratory tone was reinforced by the chief guest, Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga of the State Department for Medical Services, who connected the pharmacists' achievement to the government's broader health agenda. He acknowledged the symbolic leadership of Dr. Mbogo. "I would like to first congratulate Madam President; she is the first woman president for PSK in 60 years," Dr. Oluga said, noting the rise of women's leadership in a sector where they now constitute the majority of professionals.

"Healthcare is one of the key agendas of this administration," Dr. Oluga affirmed, detailing strategic interventions in health financing. He underscored the essential link between workforce and access, stating, "For healthcare to be availed, hospitals must have health workers," a comment that directly validated the new mandate for pharmacists.

PSK adopts all-inclusive practices in the quest for its objectives. Passionate for the provision of effective and efficient health care services, PSK highly emphasizes being professional and abiding by the code of ethics and the code of pharmacy and other applicable laws. PSK also subscribes to and takes part in the advocacy for and the encouragement of the development of effective, and analysis of, respective pharmaceutical policies and implementation of pharmaceutical policies by examining the existing pharmacy regulations and laws with the aim of protecting public interest.

Pharmacists play a critical role in creating an enabling environment for the provision of holistic quality health care. This is achieved through PSK, which assists its members in this process by offering them chances for lifelong learning and involvement in health promotion programs, as well as participating in health conferences locally and internationally. PSK members are able to stay current with developments in the pharmacy field through the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program offered by the PSK and through reading the PSK’s publication, the Pharmaceutical Journal of Kenya.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) is a representative body established to allow pharmacists to apply their professional knowledge to the welfare of patients. PSK was established in 1964, but its origins date back to the Pharmaceutical Society of East Africa, which was registered in 1950. Since its inception, PSK has been working towards creating a common standard of professional practice and ethics among members, as well as working to ensure that the welfare of pharmacists is catered for.


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