Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma (right) during the flagging off of Sh28m drugs at the county headquarters/HANDOUTMeru Governor Isaac Mutuma has flagged off Sh28.9 million medical supplies expected to end shortages in public hospitals.
The governor has said that the measure is part of a broader healthcare overhaul to improve health services.
Previously, patients were referred to private pharmacies to buy drugs at a much higher price due to shortages in public hospitals.
While dispatching the drugs at the county headquarters on Friday, the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring that healthcare systems are streamlined for the benefit of residents.
Just last month, the county administration dispatched another batch of drugs worth Sh25 million to health facilities.
“We will no longer allow patients to be referred to private pharmacies to buy medicines. Health is wealth and we must ensure our people are productive by keeping them healthy,” he said.
Mutuma announced his administration has allocated Sh300 million in this year’s budget for the procurement of drugs, up by Sh95 million from last year’s allocation.
However, he expressed concern over the high prevalence of cancer cases in the county, saying his administration is making plans to provide specialised services that will ensure the cases are diagnosed early for better treatment.
“Cancer is our greatest enemy. We are determined to bring in specialists, modern machines, and the appropriate medicine. We plan to establish a dedicated cancer directorate to coordinate interventions and give the disease the focused attention it deserves," Mutuma said.
He also appealed to residents to register under the Social Health Authority to fully benefit from health services provided by the government.
Meru health executive Denis Mugambi told journalists the county government was partnering with the Mission for Essential Drugs Supply, a faith-based non-profit organisation, to guarantee consistent supply of drugs.
He said the consignment will be equitably distributed among all wards to ensure residents from all parts of the county are well covered.
Titus Munene, deputy head of commercial services at MEDS, confirmed that the supplies meet regulatory standards and quality benchmarks, explaining that they include pharmaceuticals, non-pharmaceuticals, lab reagents, X-ray materials and dental items.
“We’re planning to open a MEDS branch in Meru to improve access to drugs and reach remote areas more efficiently. Eventually, with the establishment of a manufacturing plant in Kisumu, we expect a reduction in medicine prices," Munene said.
