Promotion and advertising of drugs to health professionals must be ethical, factual, educational, and balanced in approach and designed to impart non-exaggerated information to prescribers. These principles apply equally to symposia and other scientific meetings.

Promotional materials must be in good taste and not in any way offensive to any segment of society. Major warnings as regards the dangers of using the advertised product must be given in the advertisement in a manner that they are noticed and clearly understood. Professional group images or symbols are not permitted in advertisements. Cap 244 provides for stiff penalties for misleading and exaggerated claims in any advertisements.

All advertisements will be approved by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board. A drug product must not be advertised or launched before the registration procedures are complete and the advert approved.

Promotion and advertising of drugs to the general public must be limited to drugs legally available without prescription and should help people to make rational decisions on the use of drugs. Advertising must not be addressed directly or indirectly to children, and it should not encourage unnecessary or excessive use of medicinal drugs.

Free samples of products registered for sale in Kenya may be provided only in modest quantities to prescribers and only on request from the prescriber. Free samples should not be sold to the general public.

The minimum qualification as a medical representative should be a pharmaceutical technologist, clinical officer, registered nurse or livestock officer, for veterinary drugs. Employers are accountable for the statements and promotional activities of their medical representatives.