Kemsa suspends supplies to Taita Taveta over debt

Kenya Medical Supplies Authority headquarters in Embakasi, Nairobi, on November 18, 2024. [File, Standard]

The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) has stopped supplying drugs to the Taita-Taveta County government due to a debt of Sh57.4 million.

The suspension of drug supplies also comes at a time when patients, especially at the Taveta border town, have been forced to seek medical treatment from Moshi, in Tanzania.

Recently, the county paid over Sh12 million as part of the outstanding bill. Yesterday. Kemsa acting regional sales and marketing executive for the northeastern and coast regions Rukia Dzombo confirmed the suspension.

She said the county's ageing status is over 120 days, meaning all accounts are suspended. "We at Kemsa do acknowledge receipt of Sh12 million dated February 18, 2025, being payment of the county debt.

The debt ageing status is over 120 days, meaning all accounts are suspended," stated Zombo's letter to the county health executive seen by The Standard.

The other issue discussed was the ongoing clinical officers strike that has paralysed healthcare systems in the 71 public health facilities.

On Thursday, the deputy governor Christine Saru held a crisis meeting with all hospital management boards in the four sub-county hospitals, which include Moi County Referral, Wesu, Mwatate, and Taveta sub-county hospitals.

The meeting focused on the acute drug shortage and health workers' lack of motivation.