By J, KNA
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called on the county governments to prioritize procuring drugs from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KeMSA) noting that the Authority had undergone major transformative reforms.
Duale affirmed that the challenges that KEMSA faced including delays in delivering the supplies had all been addressed and currently the Authority was providing “Last mile delivery of medical supplies up to the grassroots, compared to other agencies.’’
The CS was speaking when he joined Uasin Gishu Governor Dr. Jonathan Chelilim in flagging off a Sh34 million drugs consignment supplied by the Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS).
The supplies are meant for 140 health facilities across the six sub-counties of Uasin Gishu to ensure quality healthcare in line with Universal Health Coverage(UHC).
The CS highlighted SHA benefits and announced plans to upgrade Ziwa Level 4 hospital to Level 5 to ease pressure on the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH).
He said the county was also set to receive top-tier medical equipment under the National Equipment Service Programme (NESP).
Earlier, governor Chelilim had raised concern over KEMSA’s occasional delays and failure to supply consignment in full despite the county’s effort to make payments on time.
This, he said, contributed to patients’ long suffering due to insufficient drugs in various health facilities across the county.
The CS was on the county tour to officiate various activities including the KMTC Sports grand finale and commissioning of KMTC Burnt Forest campus.
Others present included Uasin Gishu deputy Governor Evans Kapkea, Senator Jackson Mandago, MP Samuel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi) PS Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni and KMTC Chair Josiah Kiplangat and the CEO Dr. Kelly Oluoch.
