The Nakuru County Department of Health has responded to reports alleging that expired drugs worth Ksh 2 million were found at Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital.
Roselyn Mungai, the County Executive Committee Member for Health, clarified that the issue has been misunderstood.
According to Mungai, one set of the expired drugs were “program drugs” donated by a development partner. Their expiration resulted from changes in user protocols, which made their distribution impossible. She emphasized that this was beyond the hospital’s control.
Additionally, another batch of expired drugs originated from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) as part of a documented donation of “short-expiry drugs.”
These medicines, meant for high-volume hospitals, were close to expiry when received. Mungai stressed that the county did not purchase these drugs nor were they part of the hospital’s essential medicines.
She further explained that expired drugs cannot be immediately disposed of, as they must go through a strict audit and disposal process. This ensures accountability and proper handling before they are removed.
The Nakuru County Department of Health reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability in health services.
Mungai urged the public to seek official clarification on such matters before drawing conclusions, assuring residents that the county remains dedicated to providing quality healthcare.
“We continue to uphold the highest standards of professionalism in all our operations,” Mungai stated.
