Nairobi, July 15 -- The Ministry of Health's decision to halt unregulated parallel importation of medicines and health technologies marks an important step in strengthening Kenya's pharmaceutical regulatory system.

More than a policy shift, it is a reaffirmation that improving access to medicines should never come at the expense of patient safety, quality or public confidence.

Parallel importation has long divided opinion. Supporters argue it can improve access and lower costs by allowing medicines to be sourced from alternative markets.

Critics, however, caution that medicines are not ordinary consumer goods.

They require strict oversight of manufacturing, storage, transportation, labelling, traceability and post-market surveillance....