An alarm has been raised over a “national crisis” involving expired drugs in public health facilities across the country.
During a Senate plenary session, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi demanded answers from the Ministry of Health led by Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, on action being taken over the matter.
According to the Senator, the Senate Committee on Health ought to take urgent action after repeated warnings by the Auditor-General.
“The Auditor-General has, for three years running, flagged huge amounts of expired drugs in our hospitals.
“This is a matter that needs to be addressed urgently since it poses a great risk to the lives of Kenyans seeking treatment in public health facilities,” said Osotsi.
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Hospital Staff Under Duale Ministry Suspected
Moreover, the Vihiga Senator questioned why some county hospitals continued to stock expired drugs despite the known health risks.
He raised concerns about possible foul play at the public health facilities.
“Could there be possible collusion involving county staff or private health actors pilfering medicine meant for our people?” he questioned.
Osotsi also pointed to operational gaps within the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), which he believes could be contributing to the issue.
He questioned whether KEMSA’s delivery challenges or the supply of drugs with short shelf lives were at the cause of the problem.
“We must get to the bottom of whether delivery failures or short shelf-life drugs are worsening this dire situation,” he stated.
Therefore, he proposed the use of technology to monitor and track expiry dates of drugs in real-time.
He also called for the regulation of private pharmacies located near public hospitals, suggesting they could be profiting from the failure of public systems.
“This Senate must act to protect patients and restore public confidence in our health system,” Osotsi noted.
The Senate Committee on Health is expected to look into the matter and provide a comprehensive statement in response to the senator’s concerns.
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Auditor General Exposes Hospitals
In March, the auditor general revealed that at least Ksh1.8 million worth of expired drugs and medical supplies were discovered in the stores of Nakuru Level Five Hospital.
The hospital, which serves Nakuru and at least six neighboring counties, including Baringo, Nyandarua, Kericho, Narok, Laikipia, and Samburu, had stocked expired drugs, contrary to proper medical standards.
Further, the report noted that a physical inspection by auditors on October 8, 2024, unearthed the expired drugs and medical supplies.
“A review of records from the pharmacy department at Nakuru Level Five Hospital on October 8, 2024, revealed that drugs amounting to Ksh1.8 million had expired during the year under review but were still in the stores,” indicated the report.
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