KENYAN GOVERNMENT IGNORES DRUGS 'TRADE WAR'

The Kenyan government has announced that it will not intervene in the increasingly bitter dispute between international drugmakers in the country and freelance drug importers. This is despite a recent government pledge to take action against the flourishing counterfeit medicines trade impacting Kenya's KES10bn (US$135.52mn) drug market.

The multinationals claim that the drug importers are dealing in parallel imports, which is only permitted when faced with epidemics such as malaria and HIV/AIDS. They also accuse them of trading sub-standard and counterfeit products whose safety cannot be proven.

However, the government has announced that its not interested in participating in what it considers to be a "trade war," adding that its only concern is that drugs entering the country are safe, effective and fully registered. Industry observers claim that the government's inactivity is a result of its desire to maintain the availability of cheap drugs in the country.