Govt Hikes Licensing Fee For Select Businesses
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has proposed an increase in licensing fees for professionals and businesses in the sector, a move that could exacerbate the plight of already struggling professionals and businesses.
According to a report sent to PoliticalPulseChat, the regulatory body for pharmacies will triple or double some fees and increase others by 20 to 40 percent. However, a few will be retained.
“The PPB is in the process of revising its fees to keep up with the continuing increase in costs of services as well as the technology used in ensuring the provision of quality services,” PPB noted.
“The PPB levies fees for services rendered in executing its mandate of regulating the profession of pharmacy and ensuring the safety, quality, and efficacy of medical products and health technologies.”
The Annual Practice License for pharmacists has been increased from Ksh 5,000 to Ksh 10,000 as one of the proposed levies.
Registration of Pharmacy Premises has also increased from Ksh10,000 to Ksh15,000, and the wholesale dealer’s license has risen from Ksh20,000 to Ksh50,000.
In the new proposed changes, the license to trade in mining, agricultural, and horticultural poisons has been increased from Ksh5,000 to Ksh10,000, as has the license to sell Part II poisons.
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Other services that will be affected by the new regulations include drug manufacturers, who will be required to pay Ksh5,000 per unit.
To get a pharmaceutical representative permit, one will have to pay Ksh10,000 up from Ksh5000.
The manufacturing license has increased from Ksh 50,000 to Ksh 150,000, while the cost of document certification has increased from Ksh 1,000 to Ksh 10,000.
According to PPB, the expanding regulatory purview has strained the organization’s resources and shrunk its revenue base, compelling PPB to implement the new tax increases.
“As such there is an urgent need to expand our revenue base to meet current regulatory resource needs and ensure sustainability of providing quality services,” PPB noted in a statement.
“The amendments, however, have not adequately addressed the expanding mandate in terms of fees charged for services rendered and penalties meted out to offenders.”
Govt Hikes Licensing Fee For Select Businesses
