The Nakuru County government has started a mission to seal loopholes in county public hospitals that leads to loss of drugs.
This comes after two people were arrested with stocking laboratory equipment and drug stocks that belong to the government of Kenya in private clinics.
As reported by Daily Nation, the county Health Services Chief Officer Samuel King’ori revealed that his department is working hand in hand with the investigative authorities to establish the source of drugs that were found on private clinic shelves in Njoro sub-county.
“As a county, we would like to know how the drugs got to the private chemist and whether any of our workers could have stolen the drugs,” said Dr King’ori.
He warned that stern action will be taken to those who will be found capable of stealing the drugs from the public hospital.
He also noted that the county government has used Sh700 million in supplying of medicine to various public hospitals in Nakuru and that such vices of stealing medicine affect the hospital as there will be a scarcity of drugs in the country.
The two suspects, Ms Caroline Achieng, and Ms Truphosa Riomba were arraigned at Nakuru law court where they were charged for possessing drugs at their Njoro Huduma Medical Clinic in Njoro Sub-County.
They were freed on an Sh25,000 cash bail each after denying the charges.
Also the Pharmacy and Poisons Board Head of Goods and Distribution Practices Dominic Kariuki regretted the claims saying that the engagement of private clinics in malpractices will adversely affect public hospitals.
He has however asked the government to take action against those found engaging in those malpractices including taking away their licence
“This is outright theft of public resources carried out by individuals colluding with government officials in the hospitals. Whoever is engaging in this vice must know that it is illegal,” said Dr Kariuki, as quoted by Nation.