Governor Barasa distributes KSh50M drugs to Kakamega hospitals

Residents of Kakamega can breathe a sigh of relief after the county disbursed drugs and medical supplies worth Ksh.50Million.

The consignment which was flagged off in Malava sub county will be delivered to all the 181 health facilities across the 12 sub counties within the county.

While officiating the launch, the Kakamega County Governor Fernandes Barasa issued a stern warning to those health officials involved in drugs and other medical supplies racketeering that they will face the harsh hand of the law.

Barasa revealed that reports of drugs being smuggled out of public health facilities and sold to private ones was rampant and many cases have been reported to his office.

“We are aware that we have some health officials who collaborates with private clinics and chemists where they also serve or are the owners by proxy and steal our supplies to stock their affiliated facilities and refer patients to those facilities to purchase the prescribed drugs. We will be doing our impromptu searches and if we find any private facility stocking our drugs and other supplies, they will together with the health official who sold them face the full force of the law,” he warned.

At the same time Barasa cautioned that there should be no shortage of drugs in these level two and three health facilities as the county has resolved to be stocking them every after three month.

He said the launch was purposely meant to sensitise the public that the county has supplied and stocked each dispensary in their respective wards across the county hence they should be not be told to purchase drugs outside their health facilities.

He further asked the residents to raise alarm if they find out that the county drugs are being peddled in private facilities.

“Please my good people to assist me manage our health facilities well, I urge you to report to any county office any wrong dealings in our hospitals and those rogue medical officials involved in any form of malpractice as far as drugs and other medical supplies is concerned please report to me, as we are committed to streamline the health sector to benefit all our residents through public coffers funds” said Barasa.

He also urged the residents to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA) as it was now working and catering for their medical needs.

“We have been receiving requests of over Ksh.5Million waiver from patients who are unable to settle their medical bills seeking our assistance, but with them being registered on social health authority scheme, they will have their bills settled between 60 to 70%,” he said.

He requested the locals not to be polarized with the SHA propaganda being peddled around by some individuals and instead register for the service since we are being deducted monies to cater for the common Mwananchi health cover.

He called on the health officials and community health to make SHA registration a key necessity for all patients visiting the facilities to ensure all people are registered.

The 12 sub counties level 2 and 3 health facilities to benefit from the supplies includes, Malava 25, Lugari 16, Ikolomani 13, Navakholo 12, Shinyalu 19, Lurambi 19, Mumias East 12, Mumias West 9, Khwisero 15 and Matungu 11.