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Subukia residents have raised concerns over the lack of drugs at Subukia Health Centre.
Speaking on Thursday at the public health centre, the residents and patients said that they are being referred to private clinics and pharmacies due to lack of drugs.
The residents said that the cost of drugs at the private clinics is high, a situation that has made them suffer in silence.
“The cost of drugs at the private clinics is prohibitive and beyond our capacity,” said Ann Mwangi, a patient.
The medical officer in charge of the health institution Dr John Karanja admitted that the health centre is experiencing a shortage of drugs because of delay in funds from the national government.
“Delay to release the funds to purchase drugs from the National Treasury and long procurement processes have been the problems we are experiencing,” said Dr Karanja.
He also said that the devolution of health services has contributed to shortage of the drugs.
“Obtaining money from the county government takes time due to bureaucracy delays. To make the matter worse, drugs are purchased after budgets are prepared by the hospital and approved by the county government,” added Karanja.
He urged the county government to address the myriad of problems facing the devolved health facilities to enable residents afford better services.
Dr Karanja said that late disbursement of money, long procurement processes and lack of money need to be addressed to enable county to place orders in time.