Nyamira County health department has deregistered five major clinics for allegedly being in possession of medicines and drugs belonging to the county’s Ministry of Health, chief health officer has confirmed.
Dr Douglas Bosire who spoke on phone with this writer Tuesday said the five, which he refused to disclose their names until he officially notifies the owners, will not be given room to appeal.
He said the owners have a grace period of one week to appear before the team that was conducting the crackdown.
He said the names have been submitted to the police for apprehensions and warned medics who were conspiring with clinic owners to smuggle drugs meant for the public.
“I have exercised the power conferred to me and blacklisted five major clinics which were found culpable of being in possession of medicine and drugs with a special seal of the county government. The names are with the police and we will make them public after the owners receive official communication from us soon,” he said.
Bosire said the crackdown had met its intended purpose, but extended the grace period for the medics who have been trading with a number of clinics own to sell the medicines against the law.
“We know that the drugs are finding way out of the public health facilities through the help of medics. They still have a room to surrender before we catch up with them. But I must say that we have succeeded in combating the menace as we intended maybe we now make the crackdown a routine to safeguard public resources,” he added.
He said the health department will not tire until the culprits are arraigned in court to answer to drug smuggling charges.
“Blacklisting their clinics isn’t the final move. They must be arraigned in court and I hope the police will catch up with them soon to face smuggling charges,” he said.