The Board of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has lauded Nakuru County for procuring Health Products and Technologies (HPTs) valued at Ksh 1.9 billion in the last three financial years.
During a courtesy visit to Nakuru County, led by the Chair of the Board Ms Mary Mwadime, the members learnt that in FY 2018/2019 the county spent Ksh 389 on HTPs, in FY 2019/2020, Ksh 406 million was spent and Ksh 425 million was allocated in FY 2020/2021.
“From the volumes and analysis of the orders made during the period, one can deduce a consistency in procurement by the county. One of the things we want to assure our customers as the board, is that we are doing everything to ensure there is always adequate stocks of Essential Medicines and Medical Supplies (EMMs),” said Ms. Mwadime.
She commended Nakuru County for putting the healthcare needs of its residents first by ensuring that the about 194 facilities are properly stocked in terms of EMMs.
“As a board, our focus is to improve the Order Fill Rate (OFR) and Order Turnaround Time (OTT) so that we are able to better serve our clients,” she assured.
Ms Mwadime further noted that their main goal is to make sure KEMSA is adequately stocked to serve all public health facilities.
The KEMSA board is visiting a few customers and areas where the Authority has its distribution sites to discuss existing opportunities and challenges with an aim of availing world-class services.
On his part, Nakuru County Chief Officer Medical Services Dr Solomon Sirma expressed satisfaction with services offered by KEMSA noting that save for a few items, the Authority has to a large extent been able to meet the county’s HPT needs.
“Every quarter, we have received our supplies on time and this has enabled us to stock all our public health facilities hence our services are not interrupted,’’ said Dr Sirma.
He added that the price of HPTs offered by KEMSA was pocket friendly and therefore able to address their demands without straining the county budget.
Ms Mwadime explained that KEMSA has put various strategies in place to close all existing stock gaps in the supply chain system.
“We are focusing on getting the order fill rate of HPTs at 100 percent,” she explained. The board noted that one of the challenges the Authority is grappling with is lack of absolute quantification, and hence the need for every county to ensure that they report on consumption to enable precise planning.
Ms Mwadime challenged counties to fast-track payment for supplies received from KEMSA so that they do not hinder the Authority’s ability to restock due to financial strain.
During the Nakuru county tour, the board also visited Nakuru Level 6 Hospital where they were able to see the scope of KEMSA’s reach and identify challenges that the facilities at that level are experiencing with a view of resolving them.
In the coming weeks, the board will be visiting other clients and familiarising themselves with the problems so that they come up with effective ways to resolve them.
The KEMSA Board led by Ms. Mwadime was appointed in April this year. Other Board members include; Captain (Rtd.) Lawrence Wahome, Robert Nyarango, Terry Kiunge Ramadhani and Linton Nyaga Kinyua.
Their vast experience across various fields will be crucial for KEMSA as it works to achieve its reform agenda.
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