The Ministry of Health has raised concerns over the availability of essential medicines to patients in hospitals, despite the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) reporting a high rate of order fulfilment.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga said KEMSA has an order fill rate of between 90 and 92 per cent, but access to medicines at patient level remains as low as 51 per cent in some health facilities.
Oluga said hospitals need to improve their pharmacy systems and stock management to ensure medicines procured reach the patients who need them.
He was speaking at the KEMSA National Conference on Procurement and Supply Chain of Health Products taking place at Lake Naivasha Resort in Nakuru County.
The PS encouraged hospital pharmacists to collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other health professionals to ensure that medicines requirements are well forecasted, to avoid stock-outs and minimize wastage.
He also stressed on the need for safe use of medicines and formation of functioning Medicines and Therapeutics Committees within health institutions.
According to Oluga, the pharmacists must actively be involved in the decisions making of medicines selection and procurement, prices of medicines, and patient safety.
The conference will see the validation of harmonized list of health products, identification of new needs and determination of required quantities that will facilitate procurement for the financial year 2026/2027.
Oluga also mentioned the health reforms that will see the expansion of the digital health system, reduction of cost of medicines and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals in the country.
