This was established after the Committee led by its Chairman Michael Malinga conducted a fact-finding mission to the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency on Wednesday to ascertain the allegations reported by sections of media/MOSES MUOKI
NAIROBI,Kenya,Jul 18 – Senate Health Committee has allayed fears of existence of expired drugs being circulated in the chemists.
This was established after the Committee led by its Chairman Michael Malinga conducted a fact-finding mission to the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency on Wednesday to ascertain the allegations reported by sections of media.
The members conducted a tour within the warehouse and found out that the agency has an automated system which quarantines drugs that are remaining with 6 months to expiry date.
“We came to follow up on the issue of expired drugs that KEMSA is supplying expired drugs which we have since found its not true,as a Committee we are happy and we commend them for how they have automated things here,”he said.
Their visit was occasioned by expired drugs and other medical supplies that were seized in Nairbi around March this year,sparking fears of unsafe medication in the market.
KEMSA’s Chief Executive Officer Jonah Mwangi who had accompanied the senators also reaffirmed that drugs and other medical supplies from the agency are safe.
“Am glad that the Senate Committee came here to clear the air on the issue of expired drugs ,we have been able to take them through our automated system to a point that we have shown them that by the time drugs hit 180 days to expiry they are put on quarantine and they cannot be dispensed by our system,”said Mwangi.
Mwangi further said that once the drugs are put under quarantine can only be released to organisations that want to conduct free medical camps or Counties that require drugs with urgency but with conditions.
The Deputy Chair of the Committee Abdullahi Ibrahim however urged County Governments to support KEMSA by paying for drugs and other medical supplies timely as it emerged that KEMSA owes Counties Sh 2.6 billion.
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