Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has raised the alarm over persistent drug shortages in public health facilities, calling for urgent reforms to improve efficiency in medical supplies.
While appearing before the National Assembly’s Health Committee to present the 2025/26 budget estimates, CS Duale revealed that drug order fulfillment by the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) currently stands at just 47%.
To address the crisis, Duale announced a major policy shift; health facilities will now pay KEMSA directly for medical supplies, bypassing the traditional county revenue systems. This new model is aimed at enhancing efficiency, accountability, and the last-mile delivery of essential drugs and medical equipment.
The CS emphasized that these changes are part of broader reforms under the Social Health Authority (SHA) framework, which seeks to improve service delivery and strengthen Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
Duale was accompanied by PS Mary Muthoni, DG Dr. Patrick Amoth, and senior officials from the Ministry of Health.
Currently, health facilities pay KEMSA for medical supplies through a demand-driven, self-sustaining system. Counties submit purchase orders (LPOs) and pay for the supplies, with payments often made after a 45-day credit period.
