The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has come under sharp criticism from the Nairobi governor, Mike Sonko for not supplying enough medicines to the county hospitals.
Speaking during the launch of Human milk bank at the Pumwani Maternity Hospital, the only one in East Africa and the second in Africa, Sonko accused KEMSA of reneging on an earlier agreement with the county to continue supplying drugs as they settled a controversial bill of Sh.300 million.
“Despite the debt being under investigation, the county has so far paid installment totaling to Sh.175 million of the total debt but KEMSA has been unable to supply enough drugs for our hospitals thus disadvantaging residents who deserve quality services from the County Government,” lamented Sonko on Friday.
“Health is one of the big four agenda pillars and cannot be achieved when entities such as KEMSA deny our county the essential supplies needed. We might now result to getting supplies from other bodies as we cannot sit and watch as the people continue suffering,” added Sonko.
He directed the Nairobi County health department led by County Chief Executive Ministry of Health, Mohammed Dagane to work on the modalities of sourcing medical supplies from other suppliers if the problem with KEMSA persists.
At the same time, he requested the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), George Kinoti to also expedite investigations into the controversial bill of Sh.300 million and bring all those culpable to book.
The governor also requested the national government to consider allocating more funds to the counties health sector as it is critical to their development agenda.
Sonko lauded the Pumwani Hospital management for improving services to the mothers and new born babies, but was quick to warn that corruption will not be tolerated.
“All corrupt officers in my government should be ready to carry their own cross if implicated in corruption as no one will be spared. Every coin should be accounted for,” warned Sonko.
The governor revealed that the county will increase the budgetary allocation for the health sector so as to improve services to residents.
By Simon Githogori
