Local authority establishes new body aimed at resolving persistent drug scarcity in medical facilities
In a bid to address the persistent drug shortages in its healthcare facilities, Nyamira County has established a semi-autonomous agency responsible for the procurement, supply, and management of all medical supplies. The Nyamira County Health Products and Technologies Agency, created under the Nyamira County Healthcare Products and Technologies Financing Act (2025), seeks to streamline supply chains and improve procurement efficiency.
The agency will operate under its own funding mechanism and management structure, with a special fund called the Nyamira County Healthcare Products and Technologies Revolving Fund. This revolving fund will allow the agency to operate with greater financial independence and sustainability, reducing delays caused by relying solely on national exchequer funds.
To ensure professional management and accountability, the agency will be led by a competitively appointed chief executive and a governor-appointed board. The County Government will provide seed money to help the agency attain its own sustainability in terms of funding.
Dr Donald Mogoi, County CEC for health, stated that the agency, once constituted, will relieve the county of lengthy procurement processes of consumables in hospitals. The Health Department and the County Assembly have been commended for driving the legislation process effectively, with Governor Nyaribo expressing his congratulations.
Charles Keganda, County Assembly's Health Committee Chairman, believes that the legislation will be a solution to the problem of drug shortages in healthcare facilities. The County Assembly will enact the Nyamira County Health Products and Technologies Act (2025), which will govern the agency's operations, after officially enacting it and making appropriations for the take-off.
Other significant pieces of legislation include the Nyamira County Community Health Services (Amendment) Act 2024, which aims to provide a lifeline to community health promoters as county employees, and the Nyamira County Facilities Infrastructure Improvement Fund (FIIF).
By creating and operationalizing this dedicated agency, Nyamira County is seeking to ensure consistent availability of essential medicines and medical products in its health facilities. The agency's establishment responds to previous challenges where the county hospitals suffered critical stockouts and under-resourced supplies due to reliance on the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa), which often delivered only a fraction of ordered drugs.
With the revolving fund, procurement cycles can be efficiently managed, marking a significant step towards eliminating the perennial drug shortages experienced in Nyamira’s 120 healthcare facilities. The agency's operations are expected to significantly improve the quality of healthcare services in the county.
- The Nyamira County Health Products and Technologies Agency, with its focus on streamlining supply chains and improving procurement efficiency, aims to address medical-conditions and health-and-wellness issues by ensuring the consistent availability of essential medicines and medical products in the county's healthcare facilities.
- The establishment of the Nyamira County Health Products and Technologies Agency, coupled with the creation of the Nyamira County Healthcare Products and Technologies Revolving Fund, signifies a strategic approach in politics, integrating science and technology, to tackle persistent drug shortages and improve overall health and wellness in Nyamira County.
