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{
    "id": 392629,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/392629/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 159,
    "type": "other",
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    "content": "We realised that there were issues of staffing where some doctors and specialists who were in referral hospitals covering several counties were now limited to work only within the counties. Therefore, their services were not available to the neighbouring counties. There were many issues on medical supplies. So, before we left we called the Cabinet Secretary and asked what the issues and the immediate challenges were. We noted them especially the issue of drug supply where the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) in preparation for this financial year and even in the next financial year, decided to procure Kshs4 billion worth of medicines and yet when devolution started the monies for those medicines were sent to the counties. So, the counties had the choice to either buy from KEMSA or go to other suppliers because they had their money and there was no legal provision to demand that they should buy from KEMSA. We found this to be a gap almost to the point of crisis. I appreciate Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki, the Senate Majority Leader, because he had to come up with a Bill to amend the KEMSA Act so that the county medical procurement functions are guided by law. This would enable the continuity of the function of KEMSA as the procuring, warehousing and distribution of medicines which would remain with them with modifications of the demand and supply law being put in place so that we do not get the dumping of anti-malarial drugs in Nyeri and insulin in Isiolo and yet what is needed in Isiolo is anti-malarial drugs. This issue will be rectified in Prof. Kindiki’s amendment. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, going to the actual findings, as I said, we visited Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo-Marakwet and Nandi Districts. The programme that was followed was to first pay courtesy calls to the governors, health officials, hold discussions with medical personnel including the Ministry of Health (MoH) and hospital superintendents, tour all the facilities, view equipments, address and get feedback from patients to get their concerns. We also held discussions with the hospital management teams. That is the procedure that was followed. The Committee’s general findings on the counties were that most of the level 4 hospitals had prepared to move to upgrade to level 5. All the level 3 hospitals were moving to level 4 because the referral hospitals that were in Nyeri, for example, that formerly covered large areas all the way to Isiolo were now shrunk to their counties. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is demand for higher level hospitals by the counties, and each county is struggling now to get those services, by upgrading their own facilities. Some of them have already started medical training institutions and even improvised blood banks by using refrigeration in their institutions. They also have computerized their records and data for better tracking of their patients. Various medical clinics, like diabetes clinics, were run on weekly basis within their own facilities; which were mainly functions that were handled by higher level institutions. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Committee found a lot of cases of misdiagnosis of patients, mainly because of the poor status of the laboratories. The diagnosis could not be well arrived at because the laboratories lacked the essential equipment. We also realized the need for research that was not available in those hospitals. The Committee felt that as much as the upgrading is being done, it is important that the research component for various diseases, like malaria and other diseases, is also included in the upgrading. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}