Eldorret: Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich has imposed a ban on public health facilities, prohibiting them from directing patients to purchase medications from private pharmacies. He declared the practice illegal and a crime against citizens.
According to Kenya News Agency, the governor emphasized that public health facilities now benefit from dual funding sources: direct county allocations and Social Health Authority (SHA) reimbursements. These funds, he argued, should suffice to maintain a steady supply of medications within public facilities. Rotich stated that any shortages would result in accountability measures for the responsible officer and pharmacist, highlighting that patients should not suffer due to the negligence of healthcare personnel.
Rotich further explained that it is unlawful for a health facility to claim the Sh900 reimbursement for each patient treated at level 1 and 2 health facilities from SHA, only to subsequently direct the same patient to purchase drugs. Patients, having already paid their SHA insurance premiums, should not incur additional costs for medications.
The governor described the practice as a crime against the public, particularly under the SHA framework. He stressed that sending patients to buy drugs externally, after claiming reimbursement, is both unethical and unjust. To combat this issue, he instructed facility heads to anticipate needs by planning at least two months in advance, ensuring orders for medications are placed well before stocks deplete.
In situations where specific medicines momentarily run out, Rotich suggested that medical personnel should procure the needed drugs from nearby facilities and reimburse them later. The county’s riders could facilitate quick transport, negating the need for patients to visit private chemists.
To bolster this strategy, every sub-county hospital will establish a buffer drug store to support smaller facilities, especially those burdened by high patient volumes. Rotich has directed the County Executive Committee (CEC) member for Health and facility heads to implement a monthly procurement window for continuous supply.
Furthermore, the county is committed to ensuring that heavily frequented health facilities have operational laboratories and maternity wings. The installation of ultrasound machines and the training of medical staff aim to make these services accessible to rural residents.
