County flags off drugs with measures in place to ensure accountability in delivery to facilities

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has reiterated her commitment towards improving healthcare services across the County.

In her speech read by Deputy Governor David Kones on Thursday October 24, 2024 during flagging off of medical drugs and commodities, Governor Kihika pointed out that her Administration will continue to do all that pertains in ensuring better services in health facilities.

“We congregate here this afternoon, driven by our unwavering undertaking to ensure the availability of health products to the people of Nakuru which is an indispensable component of service delivery. We are therefore, today,
flagging off medicines to our public hospitals in line with our pledge of
delivering quality, affordable and timely healthcare,” she stated.

According to Kihika, the County Government of Nakuru, through the Department of Health Services, has purchased drugs amounting to Ksh21,266,982 from the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA).

The drugs will be delivered at the doorstep of a total of 216 public
health facilities, low volume Level 4 hospitals, Level 3, Level 2 and Level 1 hospitals across the County.

Kihika revealed that the consignment flagged off is a result of an order placed with KEMSA for Quarter 1 of this Financial Year(2024/25), which amounts to a total value of 23,241,312.

“This consignment, therefore, translates to 92 percent of the order with KEMSA. To ensure continuous supply of medicines, we are expecting another consignment of drugs from the Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies(MEDS) worth Kshs 22,082,528 to be delivered within 2 to 3 weeks. These drugs are for use in Quarter 2 from October to December,” stated Kihika.

Meanwhile, to ensure that high levels of accountability are maintained throughout the delivery process, consignments have been clearly labelled with the names of the respective health facilities they are intended for.

Moreover, each facility will be presented with a delivery note at the time of delivery which they are required to sign upon confirmation that all the drugs listed have been delivered.

She added that 75 percent of the drugs will be delivered at the doorstep
each hospital while the remaining 25 percent will constitute the county
buffer stock whose role is to cushion the health facilities from any supply chain shocks that may arise before the next order is processed and delivered.

“Due to delays in the NHIF and Linda Mama reimbursements to our health
facilities,the revenue flow of most of them has been greatly affected. This
means that the buffer stock now supports even our level 5 hospital which has experienced the greatest negative effect of the delays,” she said.

To further ensure that these drugs remain and are dispensed to patients
visiting the facility, Kihika has directed members of staff are to document all the quantities received instock control cards.

The stock control cards contain
records of movement of drugs from the time of entry up to the point at which
they are withdrawn from the drug store to the dispensing areas.

In order to promote the rational use of medicines, Governor Kihika has reminded residents of Nakuru County that some essential medicines are
primarily available at Level 4 hospitals as guided by government policy contained in the Kenya Essential Medicines List.

“This is because these facilities are equipped to provide a wider range of diagnostic services that aid the healthcare providers make correct decisions on the management of
complex conditions. The essential medicine list outlines the medications
deemed necessary for basic healthcare services, ensuring that patients
receive the treatments they require without unnecessary delays or
complications. Everyone must be aware of this system so that they can access the appropriate level of care when seeking medical assistance.

According to Governor Kihika, non-pharmaceuticals worth Kshs30,670,558 meant for Q1 have already been delivered and are awaiting distribution to health facilities across the county.

Cumulatively, these supplies are meant to last us until December. This therefore means that the facilities will be adequately prepared to handle a surge in incidences such as road traffic accidents normally experienced during the festive season.

“I wish to also inform members of the public that the department of health is in the process of procuring various vaccines and antidotes valued at
Kshs2,449,972 that are meant to bolster our preventive health efforts. These
include among others, the yellow fever vaccine that will be used at our
vaccination centre to inoculate international travelers as a prerequisite to international travel and the snake anti-venom to be used in the management of snake bites,” she stated.

PRISTONE
Author: PRISTONE

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