The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has lauded Elgeyo Marakwet as its best partner in health care among counties.
KEMSA Chairman Kembi Gitura said Elgeyo Marakwet always meets its obligations with the Authority, hence the good working relations.
He added that Elgeyo Marakwet rarely experiences drugs and medical supplies stock outs due to its efficient and timely requisition of the medical supplies.
“We have had no issues with Elgeyo Marakwet County when it comes to meeting their financial obligations with us and this has made it easy for us to supply drugs and other medical supplies without interruptions,” he said.
Gitura noted that counties like Elgeyo Marakwet had assisted KEMSA discharge its mandate and serve Kenyans better.
Gitura spoke when he, together with the KEMSA board and senior staff led by Acting CEO Edward Njoroge visited the County Referral Hospital in Iten.
Earlier they had paid a courtesy call on Governor Alex Tolgos who hailed the working relation between the County and KEMSA.
“Owing to this relationship we appreciate the fact that KEMSA delivers our medical supplies to all our health facilities instead of delivering them to the headquarters where we incur other costs of transportation to facilities at the grassroots,” he said.
Tolgos said the County had empowered the management of health facilities to make orders for themselves cutting the red tape that is usually associated with delivery of drugs and other essentials from the headquarters down to facility level.
“We have done this since 2015 and we have witnessed tremendous efficiency in our health facilities and by extension improved health care service delivery,” he added.
The Governor called on KEMSA to consider supporting staff and facility management committees in capacity building aimed at further improving their abilities in health commodities management.
“This will go a long way in improving prudence in the requisition and use of these medical supplies and hence improve transparency and accountability,” he said.
The Governor also called for stakeholder consultations with a view of treating drugs and other essential medical supplies as critical developmental goods which should not be classified as recurrent expenditure.
He added that procurement laws also need to be amended to address unique needs of the health sector which requires specialised vendors.
His sentiments were echoed by the KEMSA board members who promised to hold stakeholder forums to address bottle necks in the drugs and medical commodities supply chain.
Present during the meeting were Health Acting CEC Isaac Kamar, Chief Officers Mary Kipchumba and Josephat Maiyo, Chairman of County Assembly Health Committee Shadrack Lulley among other County and KEMSA staff.
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