Kakamega deputy governor Philip Kutima has put on notice rogue health staff in the county saying they will be sacked.
Kutima asked the health services department to investigate claims that some hospitals in the county lack essential drugs.
Speaking during the funeral service of Enosh Milembe, a member of the county budget and economic forum in Munyuki village, Lugari subcounty, the deputy governor asked the CECM for Health Services Collins Matemba to visit the affected hospitals to ascertain and address the problem.
"We allocate a lot of resources to the health sector to ensure our people get quality health services. A few people are causing a crisis in our facilities for their personal interests and gains," said Kutima.
The DG responded to issues raised by Lumakanda market chairman Washington Shivo that residents cannot access proper health services in Lumakanda Level 4 hospital due to lack of medicine and laboratory services.
“We are unable to get the required health services in this hospital because some of the staff here have opened dispensaries and pharmacies next to the hospital and we suspect this is where our drugs and other medical supplies are diverted to. Deputy governor if you have time after this funeral you can pass by the hospital to see for yourself,” said Shivo.
Kutima said it is regrettable that some of the health workers have their personal pharmacies next to the public hospitals where they refer patients to buy drugs.
He said all hospitals in the county receive medical supplies from the County government regretting that some health workers sell the supplies to private health facilities.
"All health workers in charge of our facilities will have to account for all drugs and other medical supplies we supply to hospitals they are in charge," he said.
He noted that the County government will conduct changes in management of some of the hospitals to address the challenges in the facilities.
"Dispensaries and health centres have drugs but surprisingly, some of the level 4 hospitals lack drugs. This is a crisis being created by some individuals in these hospitals. We must act immediately. Changes will definitely be there I can assure you," the Deputy Governor said.
In his speech read by Kutima, Governor Wycliffe Oparanya described Lugonzo as a cheerful and sober-minded person who articulated the needs and interests of the people he represented.
-Edited by SKanyara
