- Kang’ata said the agency had declined to supply drugs until the debts were cleared. The county paid and procured drugs worth Sh29 million.
- He, however, noted that his administration has established a digital system that will curb drug theft and track usage.
Murang’a residents are elated after Governor Irungu Kang'ata flagged off truckloads of drugs for disbursement to health facilities.
This followed the clearance of a Sh31 million debt owed by the county to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority.
Kang’ata said the agency had declined to supply drugs until the debts were cleared. The county paid and procured drugs worth Sh29 million.
“The last time the county got drugs from Kemsa was two years ago and they were worth Sh3 million,” Kang’ata told county workers outside his offices on Monday.
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring drugs supplied to the county are sourced from Kemsa or Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (Meds), a Christian non-profit organisation.
The governor noted that procurement of drugs from private suppliers exposed residents to poor quality and expensive drugs.
The county, he said, will only resort to private suppliers in case particular drugs are not available at Kemsa and Meds.
He, however, noted that his administration has established a digital system that will curb drug theft and track usage.
He said the system will allow him to find out which health facilities lack drugs in the comfort of his office.
“Today, we had an engagement with Safaricom and engaged an IT advisor and I have launched a platform that will help trail drugs use in health facilities," Kang'ata said.
"The personnel in charge at the health facilities will be trained on how to interact with the platform to stop taking stocks manually."
In a month’s time, the county will also digitise other services including issuance of single business permits, quarry and parking fees.
“We are currently piloting digital payment of parking fees that will see motorists pay fees through their mobile phones. This will bring an end to the theft of revenue collected,” he said.
Kang’ata noted that theft of revenue has been hampering service delivery hence his vision to automate payment.
In a month, Safaricom will provide authorisation that will make payment of parking fees digital, a move which Kang’ata said will help increase revenue collected.
“We will be able to offer more services to residents at the comfort of their homes, this is the modern way of doing things," Kang'ata said.
Kemsa chief executive Terry Kiunge lauded Kang’ata for procuring the drugs saying there is no shortcut to economic development.
She said Kemsa exists to facilitate cost-effective medical supply solutions to meet health needs at the grassroots.
“As you head to the Council of Governors meeting in Mombasa, pass our commitment to all governors that they will receive quality consistency service from Kemsa," Kiunge said.
She said counties owe the agency about Sh2 billion and under the Kemsa 2.0 strategy, they will focus on a mutual engagement with the counties to ensure all debts are cleared.
Kemsa chairperson Mary Mwadime said the agency had a bumpy relationship with the county but now they have turned a new leaf and hope for a better relationship.
“We are happy that Murang’a county has committed to pay its bills and we endeavour to meet our mandate of delivering medical supplies to the last mile,” she said.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)