Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has urged Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to embrace technology in managing medical supplies stock and distribution.
During her visit to KEMSA National Supply Chain Centre in Embakasi, the CS said that the move would ensure it plays its rightful role in the realisation of the government’s universal health agenda.
She said that she has agreed with the agency’s Chief Executive Officer Terry Ramadhani and board on a number of irreducible minimums that need to be achieved.
“We have had quite productive discussions with the management and the board, and we have agreed on a number of things we need to do in terms of bare minimums if we are to contribute positively towards universal healthcare,” said Nakhumicha.
She is also pushing for procurement from local manufacturers and believes that this will improve affordability and make KEMSA competitive as a procurement agency for health products.
“We want to assure Kenyans that KEMSA will be their one stop shop for all health products required for their public hospitals,” she said.
“As a country we are gearing towards promoting local manufacturing especially for pharmaceuticals and KEMSA, as a strategic partner, we expect its management to move towards that direction. We want to ensure KEMSA buys locally and by so doing, we will bring down the cost of medicine in the country,” she added.
She urged the leadership to apply elements of best supply chain practices including integration, purchasing, distribution and operations so as to become cost-effective and competitive.
According to KEMSA CEO, the authority is implementing a host of reforms complete with a building management system aimed at enhancing efficiency.
