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{
    "id": 678129,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/678129/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 342,
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "about the county governments as per the reading of Article 176 so that it is explained exactly where these are and what essential medicines and medical supplies are. This Bill brings out very well one of the things we have had a contention with the National Assembly any time we are talking about counties. You cannot talk about counties without talking about the people in those counties. Therefore, when we talk about a Bill touching on a county, this is such a Bill. It touches on the people in the counties and the provisions that they actually get as a result of being in those counties. The inclusion in Clause 4(aa) creates the very important idea of consultation at the level of the Authority and the Council, thus creating a consultative process for very key and sometimes very sensitive aspects of procurement, warehousing and ensuring availability of adequate medical supplies to the county governments. This Authority will create an important link for such consultations so that there is no confusion about what is going on. The county governments are going to establish drawing rights, and maintain appropriate supply chain systems for drugs and medical supplies. In many instances, especially when we are talking about the supply to public hospitals or public institutions, there has been a lot of hue and cry. Sometimes medicines allocated, procured and distributed to a hospital are not availed to the patients. This coordinating and streamlining will help ensure that these supply chains start from the origin and end with the patient being able to receive these medicines. They will also be able to utilize the available equipment for appropriate delivery of drugs. The final premise is that the sick person should be well. This coordination has previously been centralised but is now a devolved function. We still have debates on equipment that have been given to counties and how they are meant to be used. Clause 4(a) talks about an agreement between the national and county governments. This is hinged on the inter-governmental agreement. It is this section that entrenches the connection between the national and county governments through an inter- governmental agreement that is going to be put in place and will allow for transfer of functions that fall under the county governments so that they are well prepared to handle those functions and have the powers as a result of those functions being given to them. Madam Temporary Speaker, it is important to ensure that adequate resources are provided so that when this transfer is implemented fully, there will be enough resources. This is because devolution was not just about devolving functions but also resources. The Senate has spoken severally about the idea of costing of these functions. Today, we were talking about village polytechniques in the Committee on Education and the need to have them funded in order to run properly. The issue of how much has been allocated for those functions and where the money is came up again. Having a specific council in place is also a critical issue in this amendment. It says:- “Two persons, one a man, one a woman will be members in that council”. The gender balance in this role is very important. The Bill is clear that the recommendations, consultation, Council of Governors and the making of the regulations will be properly entrenched. 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"
}