Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 345871,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/345871/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 261,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "January 2, 2013 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 25 Mr. Githunguri",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. I wish to convey Happy New Year greetings to you, the Members of this House and the staff of the National Assembly. I also rise to support this Bill. We all know that good health is wealth although it cannot be carried in a suitcase. This Bill seeks to safeguard the health of Kenyans by putting in place an elaborate mechanism to supply medical supplies to our hospitals. A good supply of medical pharmaceuticals is basic to provision of sound healthcare in any country. In this regard, it is my view that this is one of those laws that should have been passed soon after the passage of the Constitution. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, as political leaders, we receive less pressure when our people get the services they want at an affordable cost. The Bill proposes that the KEMSA ensures that there is an uninterrupted flow of supplies. The Bill also proposes that the KEMSA must ensure that drugs supplied are of the highest quality and that health facilities benefit from the economies of scale. The Bill also proposes mechanism of on how the KEMSA will partner with county governments to supply commodities. This is in line with the new Constitution. I know that there are people out there who want to see the supply of medical commodities made a free for all trade. These are merchants of doom whom we must avoid at all costs. Healthcare is different from any other sector. No serious country has left the supply of pharmaceuticals to merchants. In fact, research shows that procurement and supply of medical commodities is one of the most regulated sectors in Europe. They even determine the number of wholesalers and retailers in each location. This is the law. The study and practice of pharmaceuticals is highly regulated. These nations take the health of their people very seriously. No wonder, we all aspire to get medical attention from such countries. However, why can we not start this at home because we now have an opportunity? The supply of medical commodities is not like the supply motor vehicle spare parts or building materials where every trader sells freely with less attention being given to the origin of the good or their storage. If you buy a fake spare part for your car, you have the option of changing it later or even grounding the car. However, if you give low quality medicine to your child, the probability of destroying the life of that child becomes very high. This Bill proposes to create an Authority which will be a onetime stop for quality and affordable medical supply for our people. I request all hon. Members to support the passage of the Bill. In conclusion, I am a strong believer of the ideology that good health and good sense are two of life’s greatest blessings and should be safeguarded at all costs for the benefit of all generations. It is for this reason that I firmly say that we should not let the curtain fall on the Tenth Parliament without having passed this Bill. I beg to support."
}