In the last financial year that ended June 30, counties procured drugs and health commodities worth Sh5 billion. This is according to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa).
However, the agency ran into financial problems because a number of the counties still owe the authority more than Sh300million and according to Commercial Director Eliud Murithi, this is impacting on Kemsa's ability to sustain operations.
“Some of the counties delay payments to us and this is really affecting the way we operate,” he said after handing over Sh75 million drugs and health commodities to the Nyeri county government.
Among the counties that have bought large consignments of drugs and health commodities from Kemsa is Kakamega which procured Sh300 drugs.
According to Mr Murithi, the population of these counties was the key factor that county governments put in place when procuring for these drugs.
"In this financial year alone we are projecting the counties to buy drugs and health commodities worth Sh6 billion since their population is growing at a faster rate," he said.
Among the most drugs that are being procured according to Kemsa are essential drugs which include those that are meant to treat diabetes, hypertension and communicable diseases.