Regulating AI in Pharmacy Practice in Kenya: A Scoping Review Protocol

This scoping review protocol outlines a systematic plan to map existing evidence on the applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in pharmacy practice in Kenya and comparable low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The review will identify the types of AI technologies currently applied in hospital and community pharmacy settings, describe their reported benefits and risks, and analyze how regulatory frameworks, ethical considerations, and trust issues are addressed. The study will follow PRISMA-ScR guidelines and use a structured search of bibliographic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science) and grey literature sources (government and professional reports, conference proceedings, dissertations). Two reviewers will independently screen, extract, and chart data including AI type, pharmacy setting, regulatory context, outcomes, and ethical or trust concerns. Findings will be synthesized descriptively and thematically, with comparative interpretation between Kenya and other LMICs. The expected outcomes are an evidence map of AI applications in pharmacy practice, identification of regulatory and policy gaps, and guidance for professional bodies, policymakers, and researchers to inform responsible AI integration into pharmacy practice.