Governors have welcomed the handover of operation of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority to the military.
Kenya Defence Forces and the National Youth Service took over operations of the national medical supplier last week as part of the ensuring streamlining the agency and enhancing efficiency.
The council of Governors on Wednesday said the reforms underscore President Uhuru Kenyatta’s commitment to the fight against corruption and impunity in government offices.
“The military is known for efficiency and we hope this probity will be experienced at Kemsa going forward,” CoG chair Martin Wambora said.
“This will greatly improve supply of critical medical products in hospitals, including in the counties that have borne the brunt of inadequate supply,” he added.
Staffs were on Thursday last week ordered to work from home for the next one month and their positions declared redundant by the Kemsa board in a ruthless purge to rid the authority of elements perpetrating graft at the institution mandated with medical supplies logistics.
During the 30 days period, some of the operations will be managed by the National Youth Service and the KDF officials.
Also working closely with the agency will be the Public Service Commission.
Kemsa board chair Mary Mwadime said the workers would be appraised and those found fit rehired in a move where positions that no longer serve the purpose would be done away with.
“Board confirms necessary interventions have been put in place to avoid disruptions of service delivery. The review will be undertaken to ensure staff complement fits the purpose,” Mwadime said.
The board chair noted that the agency has been found to be in a financial crisis with a rising debt crisis, supply chain crisis, warehousing and distribution ‘chaos’, and procurement challenges due to operating inefficiencies.
As a result, the agency is currently underperforming and is largely unable to meet the mandate such as the delivery of essential medicines and products to counties and referral hospitals.
“The President’s move will also rid the supply chain of cartels who pursue selfish interests at the expense of the health of Kenyans. We hope the relevant authorities will investigate and prosecute all culpable officials to recover lost public resources,” Wambora said.
On their part, the Pharmaceuticals society of Kenya termed the reforms as long overdue adding that being the largest pharmaceutical wholesaler in the country, Kemsa must adhere to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board requirement for wholesaler dealers.
This includes having superintendent pharmacists in each warehouse and depot who shall be responsible for the quality of the distribution system through which supplies pass to get the intended public consumers in a safer manner.
“The quality management systems at Kemsa must also be subjected to periodic audit per PPB guidelines and the audit results made publicly available,” PSK president Louis Machogu said.
National Assembly Health Committee has backed the reforms, saying the committee had been assured that the reforms will be undertaken in a humane and in strict compliance with the law.