KEMSA, MTRH Forge Stronger Ties in Strategic Fact-Finding Mission to Align Drug Supply with Client Needs

In a high-level strategic engagement, the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) leadership, led by CEO Dr. Waqo Ejersa and Director of Commercial Services Eliud Muriithi, paid a courtesy visit to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) CEO Dr. Philip Kirwa. 

The meeting served as both a fact-finding mission and a performance review, aimed at enhancing the efficiency of medical supplies delivery and aligning services with client expectations.

The visit was part of KEMSA’s broader transformation journey, with a renewed focus on placing the client at the center of its operations. 

Dr. Ejersa underscored KEMSA’s commitment to adopting a customer-centric approach, noting that all ongoing reforms are being guided by the need to be more responsive, efficient, and aligned to the healthcare needs of institutions like MTRH.

He highlighted that the Authority is currently rolling out an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to automate supply chain processes and drive greater transparency and accountability.

He also pointed to KEMSA’s decentralization efforts through the establishment of regional distribution centers aimed at reducing delivery times and improving last-mile access to essential medical commodities.

These efforts are part of a 100-day Rapid Results Initiative (RRI) that seeks to raise the Order Fill Rate to 78 percent by September 2025.

Dr. Kirwa commended KEMSA for the visible improvements in supply chain performance and affirmed MTRH’s continued partnership with the Authority.

He noted that this engagement offered a valuable opportunity to validate KEMSA’s performance on the ground and provide constructive feedback for better service alignment.

As MTRH works toward becoming a world-class teaching and referral hospital and a medical tourism hub, he emphasized the need for a reliable and agile supply chain to support specialized care services such as orthopaedic implants, kidney transplants, and bone marrow transplants.

Eliud Muriithi echoed the importance of strong client relationships in driving operational success. He stated that ongoing engagements like this one are now central to KEMSA’s strategy, enabling the Authority to embed customer feedback into its systems and deliver more timely, transparent, and effective service

To solidify collaboration, both KEMSA and MTRH agreed to establish a joint taskforce to streamline issue resolution, enhance supply chain coordination, and ensure consistent availability of quality medical supplies. 

Dr. Kirwa also committed to prompt settlement of MTRH’s outstanding payments, reinforcing support for KEMSA’s financial sustainability and long-term service delivery.