KEMSA Addresses Audit Report on Quality and Efficiency.

The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) has addressed the recent audit reports on the state of county hospitals in Kenya, responding to concerns about the quality of medical supplies and stockouts.

In a statement released on Thursday, Kemsa rejected claims from the County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee’s audit report, which highlighted issues of expired or substandard drugs being supplied to county hospitals.

The report raised concerns about the quality of medical supplies and instances of stockouts in county hospitals for the 2021-2022 period. Kemsa, however, defended its operations and pointed out systemic issues affecting its performance.

“KEMSA operates an ISO17025:2017-certified Quality Control Laboratory with strict testing protocols to ensure the safety and efficacy of all Health Products and Technologies (HPTs) before distribution,” the statement emphasized.

CEO Waqo Ejersa explained that the authority works closely with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and World Health Organization-prequalified laboratories, such as MEDs, KEBs, and the National Quality Control Laboratory, to maintain high standards.

Kemsa also assured the public that it adheres to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board’s Recall Guidelines, which provide a clear process for addressing any quality issues. Additionally, the authority’s Stock Holding Policy ensures that only medical supplies with at least 75% of their shelf life remaining are accepted into its warehouses.

Regarding stockouts and poor forecasting, Kemsa attributed the challenges to financial constraints caused by delayed payments from county governments, which currently owe the authority Sh3 billion. This outstanding debt disrupts Kemsa’s revolving fund model, which depends on timely payments to restock supplies.

“Ordering patterns and poor budgeting by counties further distort our forecasting data, making it difficult to align supply with demand,” Ejersa explained.

He added that Kemsa uses historical demand data from county health facilities to inform its forecasting and procurement processes. The authority believes that resolving the financial and systemic challenges will address stockouts and improve service delivery.

Kemsa urged counties to regularize their payment schedules and allocate sufficient funds in their health budgets to meet procurement needs.