DUALE Vows to Root out KEMSA Wastage as a Result of Expired Medicines
Health Cabinet secretary Aden Duale at the conference in Mombasa. (Photo By Harrison Kivisu)
By Harrison Kivisu
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Health Cabinet secretary Aden Duale has raised concerns over wastage resulting from expired drugs at the Kenya Medical and supplies Authority KEMSA.
The cabinet secretary said the government will seal loopholes that lead to expiry of medicine at the KEMSA and medical facilities that leads to loss of Millions of taxpayers money.
“Never again should we experience medicines expiring at KEMSA or any medical facilities,in the country ,we must deal with this problem during my leadership this will stop”,’affirmed Duale.
The cabinet secretary has also vowed to supervise extensive crackdown on unregistered pharmaceutical operators in the pharmacy sector who compromise best operation standards.
“If you have gone to the right school is your obligation to ensure you sell certified medicines to Kenyans,”said Duale.
Duale further expressed concern over the internship crisis in the country saying the government will move with speed to resolve the matter.
“The issue of delayed posting and poor supervision is a concern,the government is keen to ensure institutions offering training give quality training and produce qualified personnel. ,”said Duale.
The cabinet secretary be said his office has managed to crack what he termed as the “MAFIA House’ cartels who he claimed had taken hostage the health docket.
Duale says he has managed to fix “systemic structural defects” to ensure quality health care
The cabinet secretary who was addressing pharmacists in Mombasa also vowed to close down some medical facilities that do not meet the operational standards and registration.
Duale asked pharmacists to protect the health of close to 10,000 Kenyans who walk to chemist shops everyday seeking medicine over the counter by ensuring that they sell the right drugs.
“There are certain drugs that are being misused,and they are being prescribed by pharmacists,some will not ask citizens,they will just sell to the Youth without caring,”said Duale.
He pledged to prioritize some of the key bills including the national pharmaceutical policy which are due for adoption by both the ministry and the parliament.
Director general ministry of health Dr. Patrick Amoth says there is a lot of wastage in the expiry of medicines calling for an action to seal the loopholes.
Dr Amoth says Kenya loses to a tune of sh 600 million wasted due to expired drugs thus calling for the loopholes to be sealed.
On his part President PSK Dr Luoizs Machogu says oqualityver 40 percent of Kenyans don’t get medicines at hospitals.
The lobby now wants quick gazettement of Good pharmacy practice guidelines (GPPS) as well as the adoption of quality of care bill 2025.
Mombasa governor Abdulswamand Nassir asked the Mombasa people to continue embracing the social health Authority SHA medical scheme.
The county governor also hinted that starting July this year the county will hire more medics, pharmacists,and nurses to supplement the current workforce.
“Already over 800,000 children are under the county health Care plan since January and the number may increase,”lamented Nassir rebuking those opposed to the SHA scheme.
The county governor is calling for key laws and legislation that will protect the pharmaceutical sector and caution Kenyans from buying unregulated medicines.
They were speaking during the 45th Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) annual scientific conference in Mombasa under the theme, Beyond the practice: Pharmacists innovating for accessible, quality and impactful health care.
