EXECUTIVE ADMITS TO SHORTAGE OF BASIC DRUGS AND NON-PHARMS IN RESPONSE TO STATEMENT

The County Assembly of Taita Taveta has today during its morning sitting No. 67 learnt that the County is currently facing shortage of basic drugs and non-pharmaceuticals.
Responding to a Statement sought 18th July 2023, by Mahoo Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA), Hon. Daniel Kimuyu, on the status of County hospitals, Health and Sanitation Services Committee Chairperson Hon Duncan Wangama Mwakufu reported that the County Government had ordered for drugs from Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) but lacked basic drugs like amoxicillin, antibiotics, theatre drugs and paediatric analgesics, drugs for non-communicable diseases among others, which has adversely affected service delivery in the County hospitals.
According to the response from the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, KEMSA is operating on a fill rate of 50.55% and lacked enough stock thus reducing an initial County’s order of drugs from Ksh 33,465,462.60, only delivering stock worthy Ksh 26,349,438.60 thus causing a huge deficit on essential drugs.
However, Hon. Wangama told the House that, the County Department of Health, through the response, has indicated that it’s in the process of engaging Mission for Essential Drugs and Medical Supplies (MEDS) as an alternative supplier.
Hon. Wangama who is also the County Assembly Member for Wusi Kishamba at the same time, added that, according to the Executive, other suppliers were reluctant to offer credit facilities to the County owing to the negative reputation built by the previous administrations.
Mahoo Ward MCA, Hon Kimuyu, asked the House to invite the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Services, Hon. Gifton Mkaya, to shed more light on the issue and many other issues affect the health department.
Hon. Wangama made an undertaking that, the CECM will be invited to appear before
TMW/DM