Amukura West Member of the County Assembly (MCA), Bonface Erute, has launched a revolving Ward Pharmacy in the Ward in efforts to improve service delivery and to save residents of the Ward from extortion by private pharmacies, which make health services expensive.
The model pharmacy aims at ensuring all 4 dispensaries in the Ward have sufficient supply of drugs to improve the health services which is in-line with Kenya Kwanza Manifesto of universal health services to all.
Speaking at Lukolis Health Center where the pharmacy will be located, Dr Erute urged the residents to embrace the pharmacy, as it will save them from extortion from brokers while they seek health services.
“In Busia, only 34 percent of people have access to essential health services, a gap that the private sector frequently tries to fill. However, this patchwork approach often drives up costs, making healthcare less affordable for the majority,” said Dr Erute.
The Legislature has attributed the idea of Revolving Ward Pharmacy to its benchmarking on Ampathy which has a similar programme, which ensures patients of non-communicable disease get drugs at an affordable price.
“This kind of pharmacy will be a pioneer and unique in the entire Busia County and as a Ward we are trying to ensure citizens get quality healthcare service at low cost,” he added.
Erute noted that they have invested Sh1 million of the Ward Development Fund to support the health sector through this pharmacy which will offer drugs and generate revenue for development of the county.
This comes as President William Ruto continues to urge Kenyans to register for the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
The President said the government is keen on ensuring that no one is left behind as the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), gets underway.
“We now have a law that establishes the Critical Illness Fund, which will be used to meet the cost of illnesses such as cancer. No Kenyan will have to sell his property to pay medical bills,” said the President.
By Absalom Namwalo
