No More Drug Shortages: Ruto Directs KEMSA to Deliver Medicines Directly to Hospitals

President William Ruto has directed the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to ensure that public health facilities have adequate and consistent supplies of medicines.

The President said the new system of delivering medicines and other health commodities directly to hospitals, rather than through county stores, will guarantee uninterrupted provision of health services under the Universal Health Coverage programme.

Speaking at Loglogo Africa Inland Church (AIC) in Laisamis Constituency, Marsabit County, during celebrations to mark 60 years of its existence, the President told Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) CEO Dr. Waqo Ejersa, who was present, to ensure all health facilities were equipped with drugs round the clock.

“We don’t want to hear stories of lack of drugs in our health facilities. KEMSA must ensure an uninterrupted supply of drugs to our hospitals,” the President pointed out.

He said the agency had received the necessary funding to ensure that medicines flow directly to hospitals.

Once again, President Ruto urged Kenyans to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA) to access free primary healthcare services.

“I want to encourage Kenyans to register for SHA to receive free outpatient services at dispensaries, health centres and sub-county hospitals in public, private and faith-based hospitals,” he explained.

At the same time, he called on Kenyans to take advantage of the government’s abolition of extra ID vetting requirements to acquire national identity cards.

Saying the government ended the decades-long vetting ID requirements at border counties in the country, the President pointed out that the practice was discriminatory.

Now, he said, the government has streamlined the process of registering for IDs and all Kenyans have equal access to the essential documents.

President Ruto noted that the government will continue serving all Kenyans equally, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political background.

“We removed the unnecessary vetting of people in some parts of the country, including Marsabit, to enable residents acquire IDs. All Kenyans should be treated equally,” the President said.

He asked the residents to take advantage of the removal of additional vetting to acquire IDs, saying the fee for new documents or replacement is now free.

Additionally, President Ruto said his push for Parliament to establish a National Infrastructure Fund aims to address the growing infrastructure needs, including roads.

To build at least 10,000km of new tarmac roads across the country, President Ruto said the government needed about Ksh1.5 trillion.

He pointed out that traditional budgetary funding for road projects alone was no longer adequate.

“I am going to address Parliament next week over various development initiatives,” he announced.

He told Marsabit residents that the county has received an allocation of KSh4.5 billion to build affordable housing, fresh produce markets and student hostels for public colleges.

Additionally, the President said the government has set aside KSh1.6 billion to connect more households to electricity.

On requests by local leaders for the establishment of more administrative units, he told Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who was present, to look into the matter.

“We will look into your requests to create more administrative units including sub-counties. The minister is here. You can send your proposal over the matter,” he told the leaders.

The President commended the role the Church plays in development and mission work, saying the government will continue to work with religious organisations to address the challenges facing the people.

The post No More Drug Shortages: Ruto Directs KEMSA to Deliver Medicines Directly to Hospitals appeared first on Nairobi Wire.