PHARMACY BOARD SEEKS TOUGHER LAWS!
By: Gibrilla Kamara
The Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone (PBSL) is pushing for an urgent legislative overhaul to replace its outdated regulatory framework, officials announced during a press briefing on the 21 October 2026 at New England Ville in Freetown.
Speaking to journalists and healthcare stakeholders, Dr. Moses N.P. Batema, Chief Pharmacist and Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Ministry of Health, revealed that relying on antiquated laws has severely bottlenecked the board’s operations, leading to administrative overwork and slowing down enforcement against illegal practices. Dr. Batema emphasized that the PBSL is actively fighting for the enactment of a new Pharmacy Board Act. The current, decades-old document limits the body’s modern enforcement capabilities. Reviewing and updating the act is a top priority to give regulators the legal teeth needed to safeguard public health effectively.
In his address, Dr. Batema outlined the dual pillars that guide the board’s mandate: Product Regulation: Overseeing and verifying all pharmaceutical products entering or manufactured within the country to ensure safety and quality. Professional regulating: Monitoring the conduct of pharmacy professionals and strengthening the relationship and trust between the board, practitioners, and patients. As he heavily focused on the rising dangers of counterfeit medicines, unregistered pharmacies, and illegal street drug peddlers. To combat these threats under the proposed modern reforms, Dr. Batema stressed that the PBSL cannot work in isolation. The board is actively pursuing deep collaborations with other government agencies, law enforcement, and international organizations to create a unified front against illicit drug markets.
According to Dr. James Peter komeh the pharmacist rep of the regulatory body, he expresses that the proliferation of unlicensed pharmaceutical businesses poses a severe risk to consumer health. Medications sold by unauthorized sellers bypass the strict legal frameworks established under the Pharmacy and Drugs Act. Because these products lack regulatory oversight, they are frequently subjected to improper storage conditions, lack verified safety profiles, and carry a high risk of being counterfeit or substandard. He stated that Sierra leone has two place where the medicine enter into the country which are the Sierra Leone port harbor and the lungi airport . Pharm. Komeh highlights street peddling, hawking from vehicles, and unlicenced storefronts as primary sources of dangerous, falsified medicines. The registrar of pharmacy board pharm Alusine Ambrose Musa stated that the board ensure that any establishment dispensing medication clearly displayed proper , authorized PBSL licensing .
As he urged the publics to Refrain from purchasing any medical products from unregulated street corners, markets, or mobile vehicles. As he called on the publics to report those whose Violated the law should be Immediately report suspicious pharmaceutical activities, unlicensed operators, or illegal drug peddling to local law enforcement or via the official PBSL online portal. Pharm Musa say that citizens play a critical role in safeguarding community health and ensuring that only safe, effective, and high-quality medicines are distributed across Sierra Leone and also admonished media outlet to report with fact. As new a constructive news story with correction of grammatical error
The Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone (PBSL) is pushing for an urgent legislative overhaul to replace its outdated regulatory framework, officials announced during a press briefing today, 21 October 2026, at New England Ville in Freetown.
Speaking to journalists and healthcare stakeholders, Dr. Moses N.P. Batema, Chief Pharmacist and Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Ministry of Health, revealed that relying on antiquated laws has severely bottlenecked the board’s operations. This reliance has led to administrative overwork and slowed down enforcement against illegal practices.
Dr. Batema emphasized that the PBSL is actively fighting for the enactment of a new Pharmacy Board Act. The current, decades-old document limits the body’s modern enforcement capabilities. Reviewing and updating this act is a top priority to give regulators the legal teeth needed to safeguard public health effectively.
In his address, Dr. Batema outlined the two core pillars that guide the board’s mandate the product regulation that is overseeing and verifying all pharmaceutical products entering or manufactured within the country to ensure
safety and quality and also professional regulation that monitoring the conduct of pharmacy professionals and strengthening the relationship and trust between the board, practitioners and patients.
Dr. Batema heavily focused on the rising dangers of counterfeit medicines, unregistered pharmacies, and illegal street drug peddlers. To combat these threats under the proposed modern reforms, he stressed that the PBSL cannot work in isolation. The board is actively pursuing deep collaborations with other government agencies, law enforcement, and international organizations to create a unified front against illicit drug markets.
According to Pharm. Dr. James Peter Komeh, the pharmacist representative of the regulatory body, the proliferation of unlicensed pharmaceutical businesses poses a severe risk to consumer health.
Medications sold by unauthorized sellers bypass the strict legal frameworks established under the existing Pharmacy and Drugs Act. Because these products lack regulatory oversight, they are frequently subjected to improper storage conditions, lack verified safety profiles, and carry a high risk of being counterfeit or substandard.
Pharm. Komeh highlighted that Sierra Leone has only two official entry points for imported medicines the Sierra Leone port Harbor ( Queen Elizabeth 11 ) and the Freetown international Airport in Lungi.
He identified street peddling, hawking from vehicles, and unlicensed storefronts as the primary sources of dangerous, falsified medicines.
The Registrar of the Pharmacy Board, Pharm. Alusine Ambrose Musa, urged the public to take immediate action to protect themselves and their communities by following three key steps:
Verify Licensing: Ensure that any establishment dispensing medication clearly displays proper, authorized PBSL licensing, avoid informal sellers from purchasing any medical products from unregulated street corners, markets, or mobile vehicles.
Pharm Musa stated that the publics should alert and report those who violated the law as a pharmaceutical activities, unlicensed operators, or illegal drug peddling to local law enforcement or via the official PBSL online portal.
Pharm. Musa emphasized that citizens play a critical role in safeguarding community health and ensuring that only safe, effective, and high-quality medicines are distributed across Sierra Leone. He concluded by admonishing media outlets to report responsibly and stick strictly to the facts when covering public health issues.
