Counties that owe the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority have no choice but to clear their debts.
Health CS Sicily Kariuki yesterday said it is every county's duty to pay for the supply of drugs received to allow the agency to run its operations.
Kemsa has been facing a financial crisis over delayed payment of Sh2.4 billion owed to it by county governments, a development that is threatening to cripple medical services in the country.
“Maybe the only thing we can do is to enter into negotiations with the drugs authority to come up with a way of staggering the payment but it must be paid. There is no two ways about it,” Kariuki said.
Nairobi leads in defaulters with Sh309.3 million, followed by Kitui with Sh200.8 million, Kilifi with Sh125.5 million and Narok with Sh104.6 million.
Nakuru, Kisumu and Nandi follow with Sh98.3, Sh77.5 and Sh76.4 million respectively.
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has, however, dismissed the debt saying the county owes Kemsa nothing and called on the DCI to investigate.
He has since threatened to look for another supplier of drugs for the county hospitals.
The medical supplies agency has a working agreement with counties, that requires them to make payments within 45 days after getting deliveries.
This, however, has not been the case.
The agency has a responsibility to procure, store and distribute drugs and other medical supplies for prescribed public health programmes, the national strategic stock reserve, prescribed essential health packages and national referral hospitals.
This comes even as President Uhuru Kenyatta rolled out Universal Health coverage as one of his Big Four agenda.
The CS has said the pilot of the UHC is progressing well, with Kisumu witnessing an increase in the number of people seeking healthcare going up by 50 per cent.
“What we have to focus on is system strengthening and capacity building including employing more staff and ensuring medical supplies reach hospitals on time,” Kariuki said.
The CS further added that the team of officials sent to Cuba on March 20 to look into the welfare of students in Havana said the cost of living is high.
"The ministry has moved in to address the challenges posed by the high cost of living by providing an enhanced allowance(Sh144,000) which will allow students to seek accommodation outside the university premises," she said.
Senators are now considering withholding money meant to be paid to Kemsa before disbursements to counties, and then have it transferred to Kemsa.
