The County Government of Uasin Gishu has received a drugs consignment worth Sh42 million from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), a delivery which is tens of millions in a shortfall of the initial order.
The consignment received by the County Government is about Sh48 million short of what was ordered.
Speaking during an inspection exercise of drugs delivered in Eldoret on Tuesday, acting Chief Officer for Devolution and Administration Wilson Sawe said counties will be forced to source the shortfall from other suppliers as services cannot wait.
"We have a challenge from KEMSA that their capacity needs to be enhanced if the spirit of the Universal Health Care is to succeed," said Sawe, a team leader for the inspection committee.
"Very soon we shall be launching the Universal Health Care program here in Uasin Gishu county, it will be a major problem when this program rolls out if we cannot get enough drugs for our facilities," he added.
County Pharmacist Dr Gregory Ondieki confirmed that the administration ordered drugs worth Sh90 million but the national drugs supplier, KEMSA, has proved unable to meet and honour the orders.
"KEMSA gave us a proforma invoice of Sh56 million but currently we are receiving a delivery worth Sh42 million," said Dr Ondieki.
"For the balance of the drugs, we shall either go back to KEMSA or be compelled to source from other suppliers," he added.
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