The National Assembly has granted approval for a Ksh.2 billion allocation to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) as part of the Supplementary Budget.
This funding aims to elevate KEMSA’s Order Fill Rate from 60 percent to 80 percent, aligning with President William Ruto’s bottom-up economic transformation agenda (BETA).
The objective is to enhance KEMSA’s capacity to supply essential medical resources and effectively implement Universal Health Coverage.
At a one-day engagement forum themed “Fostering Collaborative and Strategic Partnerships,” attended by delegates from all 47 counties, KEMSA Board Chair Irungu Nyakera highlighted that the allocated funds are specifically designated for procuring Health Products and Technologies to meet rising demands.
Nyakera underscored the challenge posed by outstanding debts amounting to Ksh 2.6 billion, hindering the authority’s ability to augment medical stocks.
“This money is not going for any construction or development; it will be used specifically to pay our suppliers so that we ensure our order fill rate gets to where it is supposed to be,” said Nyakera.
He pointed out that counties collectively owe KEMSA Ksh 2.8 billion, and if these funds were collected, they would significantly contribute to restocking efforts.
Dr. Andrew Mulwa, Acting Chief Executive Officer of KEMSA, emphasized the need for a collective effort to achieve the highest health standards, as outlined in the Constitution.
He stressed the importance of understanding KEMSA’s revolving fund nature, where the payment of debts is an ongoing cycle, and urged counties to collaborate in developing mechanisms to address this debt cycle.
This cycle significantly impacts liquidity and, consequently, the authority’s ability to maintain sufficient stocks.
