Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) official takes stock of drugs. Problems within the agency have hampered the procurement and supply of medicines. Photo/ANTHONY KAMAU
East Africa’s primary care health centres frequently run of critical medicines such as antibiotics and antimalarials, leaving thousands at risk of dying.
Although the situation is better in district and provincial hospitals, many of these institutions also suffer serious stock-outs.
These are the findings of a survey conducted by a number of agencies at public health facilities in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.
It found that, as a result of the stock-outs, thousands of citizens are exposed to lack of treatment, as well as counterfeit and sub-standard medicines.
In Kenya, the average length of a stock-out, the agencies say, is 25.3 days. The average length of Uganda’s stock-outs is 28 days while in Tanzania it is 89.3 days.
The NGOs involved in the survey were the Kenya Consumer Information Network, the Kenya Access Treatment Movement (Ketam), the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network, the Malawi Health Equity Network, Oxfam and Health Action International.
The agencies blame the occurrence of stock-outs partly on poor centralised medicine procurement systems, as well as ineffective reporting of medical needs by individual health facilities. The Kenya case is cited as an example.
“Problems within the Kenya Medical Supply Agency, as well as its tense relationship with the Ministry of Medical Services, are hampering the procurement and supply of medicines,” say the NGOs in a report presented recently to a regional conference in Nairobi.
“At least three independent assessments have outlined these problems and recommended concrete solutions but authorities have failed to implement these recommendations. As a result, Kemsa remains dysfunctional and there is a looming crisis in the supply of medicines to health facilities.”
In Kenya, the NGOs involved in the regional survey said, essential medicines are available in only 50 per cent of lower level health facilities such as dispensaries and health centres at any one given time, and in about 65 per cent of major public hospitals.
“It is inexcusable that Kenyans dependent on public health institutions continue to die and suffer pain and trauma for lack of essential medicines to treat common health conditions”, said Patrick Mubangizi, Africa regional co-ordinator for Health Action International.
In Uganda, the situation is no better, with median availability of all medicines surveyed being 55 per cent in government hospitals. The situation is worse in Tanzania and Zambia.
