The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) on Monday September 30, 2024 dispatched medical supplies to counties in support of the roll-out of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

These supplies, which include essential medicines, medical equipment, and maternal health commodities, were flagged off by Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, who emphasized that the deliveries will be critical to the success of the new healthcare initiative.

“These supplies will aid in the treatment and prevention of diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS, which continue to impact our communities,” Barasa noted.

She further highlighted the rising incidents of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, adding that the distributed products will be instrumental in managing these conditions at the community level.

At the same time, KEMSA board chairperson Samuel Tunai emphasized the Authority’s role in ensuring a smooth transition to SHIF.

He pointed out that KEMSA is committed to enhancing its supply chain efficiency and strengthening collaborations with both national and county governments.

“We are focused on making health facilities more responsive to local needs by ensuring timely and adequate delivery of medical supplies,” Tunai said.

Tunai also stressed the importance of reforms within KEMSA, including operational restructuring, improving accountability, and refining procurement processes.

In addition, he outlined plans to recapitalize KEMSA, which will involve securing additional funding from development partners and fostering sustainable partnerships.

However, Tunai raised concerns about financial challenges due to unpaid debts by counties, urging the national government to create a central Universal Health Coverage (UHC) account to pool funds that counties can access for purchasing medical supplies.

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