The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has confirmed the dispatch of assorted essential medical supplies all 47 counties countrywide. This is part of ongoing efforts to ensure the national scale-up of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme.
According to KEMSA Acting CEO John Kabuchi, the Authority has ensured what he described as an above-average order fulfilment rate for essential medicines valued at more than Ksh. 300 million. In the last ten days, essential medicine consignments to 37 counties have been dispatched from Nairobi, while ten counties are set to receive their supplies from the KEMSA Kisumu Regional Distribution Centre.
The Authority, he added, is working to ensure that essential medicines are delivered on time to more than 11,500 health centres spread in all the counties as their orders are received. This is amid plans to ensure the dispatch of essential medicines to several health facilities in Turkana, Nakuru, Kwale, Kisii, West Pokot and Marsabit, among other counties, early next week.
The orders prepared and dispatched to all 47 counties include a consignment of SPF 50+ Sunscreen creams and lotions recommended for use by persons living with albinism, among other dermatological conditions. Additionally, Antiretroviral (ARV) therapy drugs have been dispatched to 22 counties, including Embu, Kajiado, Nyeri, Wajir, Machakos, Mandera, Kilifi and Lamu.
“We have stepped up supply chain efforts in the last ten days and successfully managed to maintain an above-average order fulfilment rate for essential medicines and more than 90% for Antiretroviral therapy (ARV) drugs. All our teams at the Central Warehouses in Nairobi and the regional distribution centres are working flat out to guarantee last-mile deliveries,” said Mr. Kabuchi.
Within the national UHC Scale-up commitments, the Government has committed to ensuring 100% access to essential medicines for all Kenyans visiting public health centres. In the last financial year and towards the achievement of UHC, KEMSA procured Health Products and Technologies (HPTs) worth Ksh. 35.84 billion, with the health facilities countrywide managing to draw down 97% of these commodities.