SPEECH AT THE FLAG-OFF OF MEDICAL COMMODITIES TO COUNTIES BY HON. SAMUEL TUNAI, EGH
SHA

Honourable
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Debra Barasa, Permanent Secretaries Ministry
of Health, Director General of Health, County Representatives, KEMSA Board of Directors,
KEMSA CEO, Distinguished Guests, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
It
is a great honour to welcome you all to this significant event, which marks a
critical step in enhancing healthcare delivery to counties across Kenya as we
usher in a new dispensation under Social Health Authority (SHA). Today, we
reaffirm KEMSA’s commitment to ensuring that every Kenyan, regardless of where
they live, has access to the essential medical supplies they need. This event
is not just about flagging off the Health Products and technologies; it is
about safeguarding the health and well-being of our nation.
As
we continue to implement the Universal Health Coverage which is one of the key
pillars of the Botton Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) of the
government, KEMSA remains at the forefront of ensuring the availability of
high-quality medical commodities to the last mile. Our work directly supports
the government’s mission to provide accessible, affordable, and effective
healthcare for all.
KEMSA
therefore is a key pillar in the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation
Agenda (BETA), particularly in the area of medical commodity security. By
ensuring that health facilities, from the grassroots to the national level, are
adequately stocked with the necessary supplies, we are contributing to a
stronger healthcare system and, by extension, to the economic well-being of our
communities. Health is wealth, and we are committed to securing this wealth for
every citizen by reducing health inequalities and improving access to essential
medicines in rural and underserved areas. A healthy population is vital for
productivity, and KEMSA is determined to support this transformation.
To
enhance UHC delivery, we are focusing on improving the efficiency of our supply
chain and strengthening partnerships with both national and county governments.
We aim to make health facilities more responsive to local health needs by
ensuring that medical commodities are delivered on time and in sufficient
quantities.
We
recognize that for KEMSA to effectively support these national goals, there are
urgent reforms we must undertake:
- Restructuring
our operations: We are initiating internal reforms to
streamline operations and increase efficiency. This includes digitizing
our supply chain management through new ERP and improving our procurement
processes to minimize delays and wastage.
- Strengthening
Accountability: We are introducing regular performance
reviews for our staff and departments to ensure accountability at every
level. This will help in identifying bottlenecks and taking swift
corrective action.
- Improving
Procurement and Forecasting: Accurate procurement
and demand forecasting are essential. We are investing in research and
data-driven decision-making to ensure that we anticipate county needs and
avoid stockouts.
- Funding
Mobilization: We are working to mobilize funds to
clear pending payments to suppliers, which will improve our ability to
deliver commodities swiftly and restore confidence among our partners.
- Health
System Recapitalization: In the long term, we
aim to recapitalize KEMSA to strengthen its financial foundation. This
will involve seeking additional funds from development partners and
exploring partnerships that will ensure sustainability.
However,
as we continue to deliver on this mandate, we face a critical challenge: funding.
Many counties are struggling to pay for the HPTs they need. To address this, I
urge the national government to establish a central account for UHC where funds
can be pooled for counties to draw from. This will make the process of ordering
and payment more efficient and ensure that counties can always access the
supplies they need, without delays or financial hurdles. A central funding
mechanism will prevent counties from falling behind on payments, ensuring a
continuous supply of essential drugs.
KEMSA
has always remained committed to ensuring that medical commodities are
available across all counties despite the growing debt that counties owe to
KEMSA. However, this situation is not sustainable in the long term.
I,
therefore, appeal to both national and county governments to pay the debt they
owe KEMSA and inject much-needed funds
into KEMSA, particularly in support of UHC. The reality is that county budgets
for Health Products and Technologies (HPTs) have not been sufficient to meet
the growing needs of the population. We need a collaborative solution to ensure
the financial sustainability of KEMSA.
Looking
ahead, KEMSA fully supports the establishment of the Social Health Authority
(SHA), which will provide broader access to health insurance for all Kenyans.
This new insurance framework will offer financial protection to citizens while
also strengthening our health system by facilitating better coordination and
planning for medical supplies.
KEMSA
will work closely with SHA to ensure that our systems are aligned and that we
continue to meet the needs of healthcare providers and patients alike. This
synergy will be key in ensuring the smooth implementation of the SHA framework.
In
addition to these efforts, KEMSA is actively exploring grant opportunities to
support counties, particularly those that have been diligent in paying their
debts. This will ensure that those counties which pay on time continue to
receive the best possible service from KEMSA, while also helping others to
improve their financial management.
I
would also like to acknowledge the counties that have successfully implemented
the Facilities Improvement Fund (FIF). This initiative has played a crucial
role in improving healthcare infrastructure and service delivery at the county
level.
As
we implement the Social Health Authority (SHA), I encourage other counties to
follow this lead and prepare to implement SHA. This will further promote
primary healthcare and ensure that our health system is robust at all levels.
In
conclusion, KEMSA is fully committed to playing its part in fulfilling Kenya’s
healthcare agenda. We are ready and willing to work with national and county
governments, development partners, and all stakeholders to ensure that every
Kenyan has access to the medical commodities they need. Our immediate and
long-term reforms will strengthen KEMSA and ensure that we can continue to
deliver on our mandate efficiently.
Together,
we can ensure that the promises of Universal Health Coverage, the Bottom-Up
Economic Transformation Agenda, and the Social Health Authority become a
reality for all Kenyans.
Thank
you.