Editorial: Towards Improving Quality of Food And Medicinal Products - The Role of a Pharmacist in the 21st Century

Abstract

Access to food, nutrition and good health are fundamental in life. The provision of adequate food and medicines are inalienable rights of all human beings. Governments worldwide strive to provide the best health care services to their citizenry. According to the Kenyan constitution 2010, every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, adequate food of acceptable quality, and access to clean and safe water in sufficient quantities. All these provisions are possible if food and medicinal products are of good quality, which must always be safeguarded and sustained. Most processed foods and medicines have written standards from manufacturing, distribution and storage to preserve their integrity, quality, safety and efficacy. However, most developing countries experience considerable challenges of substandard food and medicinal products in their markets. Low-quality products are a source of risk and may impact negatively on product quality and patient safety. The danger arises from incorrect amounts of ingredients or contamination with harmful substances.