The Ministry of Health has announced fresh measures to regulate the sale of Sildenafil commonly known as the Blue Pill or Viagra following a Citizen TV investigative documentary that exposed widespread abuse of the drug.
In a statement issued on Monday, December 22, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni reminded pharmacies and the public that Sildenafil is a prescription-only medicine and should not be sold over the counter under any circumstances.
Muthoni said the drug is primarily prescribed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and should only be taken under the guidance of a qualified medical professional.
She warned that unsupervised use of Sildenafil, particularly when combined with nitrates or certain heart and blood pressure medications, can lead to serious and potentially fatal complications.
“The drug increases the risk of life-threatening events such as heart attack and stroke. Patients must consult a doctor or pharmacist before use,” Muthoni said.
To curb misuse, the ministry announced the rollout of a monitoring system that will require pharmacies to properly document and report all sales of prescription-only medicines. According to the PS, the move is aimed at improving traceability and sealing loopholes that allow controlled drugs like Sildenafil to leak into informal or illegal markets.
The ministry will also intensify audits and inspections of pharmacies, with inspectors reviewing prescription records to ensure the drug is dispensed strictly in line with the law.
“These inspections will focus on verifying valid prescriptions and ensuring controlled medicines are dispensed responsibly,” Muthoni noted.
In addition, the government plans to launch public awareness campaigns to educate Kenyans on the health risks and legal consequences of using prescription medicines without medical approval.
The new directives follow a Citizen TV documentary titled “Blues and Death”, which aired on Sunday night. The investigation highlighted cases of abuse of sexual performance-enhancing drugs and revealed how regulatory gaps have allowed rogue pharmacies to sell Sildenafil freely, without prescriptions or proper medical guidance.
The Ministry of Health said it is committed to restoring order in the pharmaceutical sector and protecting the public from the dangers posed by misuse of prescription-only medicines.