Naivasha: The Kenya Institute of Supplies Chain Management (KISM) has partnered with the Ministry of Health to strengthen procurement and supply chain systems supporting the country’s Universal Health Coverage agenda. Speaking during the Third Edition of the Health Supply Chains Conference in Naivasha, KISM Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Matiba emphasized the importance of professionalizing the sector to build trust, efficiency, and accountability, ultimately improving health outcomes.
According to Kenya News Agency, the initiative targets several key areas including procurement processes, inventory management, cold-chain operations, and last-mile distribution networks. These are considered critical elements in accelerating the country’s health agenda. Kenneth Matiba highlighted the need for health-sector supply chain functions to be managed by qualified, registered, and licensed professionals, noting that supply chain decisions directly impact public resource use and patient safety.
KISM is actively registering and accrediting procurement professionals, aiming to have 40,000 registered by 2029 to address sector bottlenecks. The organization is committed to strengthening the profession through initiatives like registration and licensing, continuous professional development, and the enforcement of standards and ethics.
The capacity-building training aims to tackle issues such as drug stock-outs, advance the digitization of medical services, and address counterfeit and substandard medical products. Furthermore, KISM is advocating for the adoption of e-procurement, real-time visibility, data analytics, and responsible Artificial Intelligence application to enhance transparency and accountability.
Dr. Andrew Toro, Director for Curative Care and Nursing Services, highlighted that the government is on high alert to handle emergencies, including disease outbreaks and trauma cases, ahead of the anticipated El Ni±o rains. Public warnings have been issued in anticipation of the rains, which are expected to intensify next month.
The government is collaborating with partners to ensure an adequate and timely supply of medical products, while also guarding against substandard goods. The ministry has secured sufficient reserves of drugs and medical supplies and has increased compliance and surveillance to prevent counterfeit products from entering the market. Dr. Toro emphasized the partnership with KISM to accelerate the supply of medical products, ensuring that quality medical supplies are available at health facilities.
The Interior Ministry has issued a presser indicating that the anticipated impacts of the rains include intense flooding, drowning, community displacement, and disease outbreaks. A coordinated approach between national and county governments has led to the development of several mitigation measures. These include mapping hotspot areas, unclogging drainage systems, and raising awareness among vulnerable populations.
