The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) has distanced itself from a pharmacy staff member captured in a circulating video allegedly dispensing a skin medication for an eye condition.
In a statement issued on February 27, 2026, PSK stated that it had taken note of the footage in which a topical acyclovir formulation, typically intended for dermatological use, was reportedly dispensed for application in the eyes.
The society considered any error involving the wrong formulation or route of administration to be a serious clinical matter that raises patient safety concerns and warrants regulatory review.
In the viral video, the distressed parent went to the pharmacy and confronted the Pharmacist, accusing her of selling her a drug intended to cure skin illness instead of the prescribed eye drug.
In her defence, the Pharmacist argued that during the prescriptions, her mind was preoccupied with skin issues, and that when she reviewed the doctor’s note, she did not notice the word ‘eye’.
The mother further explained how her child has been crying in pain when the drug was applied, pushing her to go back to the doctor.
Following preliminary verification, PSK confirmed that the individual shown in the video is not a licensed pharmacist and is not a member of the society.
The society warned against labelling all pharmacy staff as pharmacists, saying it unfairly implicates registered professionals without verification.
“It is important to correct public and media mischaracterisation that refers to every person working in a pharmacy setting as a ‘Pharmacist.’ Such misrepresentation is inaccurate and unfairly associates the Pharmacist with incidents without verification,” they stated.
PSK further noted that, under Kenya’s regulatory framework, licensed pharmacy premises may have both pharmacists and pharmaceutical technologists practising there.
It stated that the incident highlighted the need for stronger prescription verification processes, clearer accountability structures, and reinforced patient safety safeguards across all pharmacy outlets.
They further urged the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to conduct a comprehensive investigation, confirm whether the outlet complied with licensing regulations, and tighten oversight measures where gaps are identified-Kenyans.co.ke.
