Audit reveals severe drug shortage, expired supplies at Bomet's Longisa Hospital

A new audit report has uncovered a troubling paradox at Longisa County Referral Hospital in Bomet County, which is battling severe drug shortages while also storing expired medical supplies worth millions.

Despite the critical lack of medicines, the hospital has kept 85 units of expired drugs, including intraocular lenses and AVF sets, stored alongside unexpired ones, raising concerns over patient safety.

The findings were revealed by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu in a report for the financial year ending June 2024.

The report, presented to the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee last Friday, paints a grim picture of the hospital’s operations.

Longisa, a Level 4 facility that serves a large portion of Bomet County, is plagued by staffing shortages, including the absence of a general surgeon, and a lack of essential equipment, which continues to hinder service delivery.

“Longisa is not a small facility. A significant number of people in the South Rift depend on it. How many people in Bomet have been given expired drugs?” questioned Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei during the committee session.

Governor Hillary Barchok, who appeared before the committee, struggled to explain why the hospital continues to hold expired supplies despite being aware of the issue.

The county chief acknowledged the problem but said steps were being taken to address it, including the development of a disposal plan for expired drugs.

“I admit we have a serious problem. We cannot be accused of having expired drugs while also experiencing shortages. Patients claim they are prescribed drugs that are unavailable at the pharmacy, yet when I call, the drugs suddenly appear,” Barchok said.

Senator Godfrey Osotsi, the committee chair, expressed concern over the hospital’s management practices, particularly questioning the failure to adhere to the "first expiry, first out" principle in dispensing drugs.

He also pointed out the troubling trend of chemists thriving around hospitals while drug shortages persist.

“How do drugs expire in hospitals? I think this is not just a systems issue - there is something deeper. What is the real story?" Osotsi said.

Further investigation revealed that Longisa County Referral Hospital lacks a functional inventory management system, which could have prevented the storage of expired drugs alongside usable supplies.

The report also highlighted other deficiencies, including the absence of radiologists and general surgeons, shortages of essential ICU and HDU beds, and a lack of proper Newborn Unit cots.

Despite these challenges, Governor Barchok assured the committee that the county government has taken steps to address the staffing gaps, with three medical doctors approved for postgraduate training in radiology and a new surgeon recently joining the hospital.