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{
    "id": 345875,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/345875/?format=api",
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    "content": "now. That is why there is need that we make changes in a key sector like the medical sector as the Bill proposes. The accessibility and availability of drugs to people or the end users is very important. It makes no sense to have stores in Industrial Area where we stock a lot of drugs, some imported and others locally manufactured, but they cannot reach the end users. I think every Member of Parliament here has people who experience the same problems. People go for treatment in Government hospitals and they are referred to chemists or pharmacies located next to the hospitals to buy drugs and other medical supplies. We can hardly find drugs in Government hospitals, but we can get them very expensively in the pharmacies. That amounts to some kind of collusion between the hospital authorities and those who sell the drugs. It is better that we have enough drugs in our hospitals. That can only happen if the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority Bill goes through with the recommendations that have been suggested. The management of those stores is another issue which we need to address. The few drugs in Government stores are sold to private sector. There have been instances where people have been apprehended selling drugs from the stores of Government hospitals to private pharmacies. The people who are selling those drugs, sometimes, are not aware of what they are selling. The people who are charged with management of these stores must be committed and honest. We want them to take proper care of those stores. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, this will also help us to streamline the procedures of availing the drugs on time. You will realize that some of them have stayed for a long time and they end up expiring. There is lack of proper documentation and checking to know which ones have come out and which ones have not yet come out. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there has been lack of proper structures and institutions under the procurement of medical supplies. This has led to corruption in the procurement of the drugs. You will find orders for drugs being made outside the country which are not needed. They are brought in and the Government pays for them. The Bill encourages decentralization. This is in line with the new Constitution. I think we should be looking for ways where we can have adequate drugs manufactured here. By so doing, the cost of drugs will be reduced drastically. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}