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{
    "id": 1139232,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1139232/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 134,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Musuruve",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13188,
        "legal_name": "Getrude Musuruve Inimah",
        "slug": "getrude-musuruve-inimah"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, for this opportunity. Allow me to first wish you, together with my fellow Senators, a happy new year. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I thank Sen. Shiyonga for coming up with this Bill. She was hawk eyed because it is an amendment that is crucial. It is unfortunate it is an oversight that was not seen earlier on. What Sen. Shiyonga has brought on the Floor of this House is a Bill that we cannot ignore. This is a Bill that involves county governments. Our business as the Senate is to support and ensure that the interests of county governments are covered. It is our business to protect the interests of county governments and health is an important function. What the Senator is proposing is very good, that procurement of drugs should not be about one body taking the monopoly. I support her simply because I know very well that when one body is designated with the authority to procure drugs in the whole of Kenya, there will be delay of drugs reaching the counties and drugs expiring in the process of being procured. Mr. Speaker, Sir, it is very encouraging that KEMSA should be involved. In fact, counties should be encouraged to procure from KEMSA, but it should not be an obligatory requirement. There is need to allow healthy competition. It is then that manufacturers look for quality products and ensure the economy of scales. When the economy of scale is there then the drugs are friendly in terms of prices and quality. It is something that is very clear that when you go to many county hospitals you will find that there is an issue of drugs. At Lumakanda Hospital, which is a referral hospital, it is unfortunate that there are no drugs there. Patients were being referred elsewhere to procure drugs. When it comes to health, the Government should not compromise the lives of Kenyans. Kenya is one of the signatory states and a state party that signed the health requirements internationally. They are meant to ensure that 15 percent of monies go to counties for purposes funding health. If 15 percent of the national money is going to counties, then the counties should be given authority to ensure they look for quality drugs"
}