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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.