The Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) has delivered a consignment of oncology drugs worth Sh3.3 million to the Makueni County Referral Hospital for cancer management.
The consignment included 129 boxes of renal and oncology drugs for the treatment of cancers such as prostate, breast, colon, cervix multiple myeloma malignant melanoma and spindle cell among others.
The drugs, purchased by the County Government will help relieve patients the huge burden of cancer treatment expenses, as the medicines can be accessed through the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Speaking to KNA in his office at the Makueni County Referral Hospital, the local cancer centre Oncologist Dr Morris Mweu, said that the drugs they have received will be of much help to the patients, as they had initially experienced a three-month shortage of cancer drugs.
“We now have adequate stocks of drugs in our Cancer Centre to last for the next three months. We will be topping up the supplies to ensure that patients have adequate access to preventive and treatment drugs,” stated Dr Mweu.
He revealed that they had established a Revolving Fund Pharmacy where they will be using the income they generate to buy more, so as to ensure a sustainable and uninterrupted availability of drugs at the cancer facility.
The oncologist further urged cancer patients to use their NHIF cards to access cancer services at the health facility.
By Maureen Wanjiru and Patrick Nyakundi
