The Ministry of Health has raised concerns about a shortage of medicines and other essential health supplies at the Kenya Medical Supply Authority (KEMSA). Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale addressed the issue during a press conference on Tuesday, April 1.
According to Duale, the shortage is primarily caused by a lack of sufficient funds to replenish the stock of health supplies and technology at KEMSA.
He revealed that the current order-to-fill rate for health products at KEMSA stands at a concerning 43%.This low order fill rate means that KEMSA is unable to meet the demand for essential health products across the country.
Duale explained that the financial constraints have made it difficult for KEMSA to restock supplies and keep up with the necessary technological advancements to improve service delivery.
The shortfall in health supplies is already affecting health facilities, which are struggling to provide the necessary services to patients.
In response to the situation, Duale assured the public that the government is taking steps to address the shortage. The government plans to inject Ksh1.5 billion into KEMSA through the supplementary budget.
Additionally, efforts are underway to secure a Ksh5 billion loan to further support KEMSA’s operations. These funds are intended to help raise the order fill rate to 90%, ensuring that the country’s health supply chain is more robust and able to meet the growing demand for health products.
Duale emphasized the importance of replenishing KEMSA’s supplies to support the growth of local health product manufacturing.
By improving the availability of medical commodities, the government hopes to lower the costs of these products, making them more accessible to the public. This move is expected to strengthen the country’s health systems and ensure better service delivery across the nation.
The announcement of KEMSA’s funding challenges came just days after a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that Kenya is one of the seven countries at risk of running out of HIV medication supplies.
The WHO highlighted that the reduction in US foreign aid, especially after the Trump administration halted aid, has left countries like Kenya vulnerable to shortages of essential health commodities.
Other countries that may also face similar shortages due to the US grant cuts include Haiti, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, and Ukraine.
The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed concern about the impact these disruptions could have on global health programs.
He warned that the setbacks in HIV treatment programs could reverse two decades of progress in fighting the disease. Ghebreyesus also called on the United States to ensure that any reduction in direct funding is done in a way that allows affected countries to find alternative sources of support.
The Kenyan government’s plans to recapitalize KEMSA and secure loans are critical to stabilizing the country’s health supply system.
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