Senate tackles crisis of expired drugs in County health facilities

A new investigation by the Senate aims to uncover why expired drugs are found in public health facilities across the country, highlighting the significant health risks to patients.

The probe will focus on the roles played by medical professionals, facility managers, and county governments in managing drug supplies and stock.

Senator Godfrey Osotsi, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Investments and Special Funds, expressed serious concern over the growing issue.

According to him, expired drugs are being found in many county health facilities, and this problem has been flagged repeatedly by the Auditor General over the past three years.

"Over the past three financial years, the Auditor General has flagged the issue of large quantities of expired drugs in many public health facilities across our counties," Osotsi stated.

The committee Osotsi leads is now examining how these expired drugs continue to find their way into public hospitals, despite repeated warnings.

Osotsi stressed the need for quick action to resolve the situation, as it directly impacts the health of Kenyans.

"This is an urgent issue that requires immediate attention, as it presents a significant risk to the lives of Kenyans seeking treatment in public health facilities," he added.

The Senate Health Committee, led by Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, is working on determining the overall value of expired drugs in county hospitals over the past two years.

The committee will also investigate why health facilities continue to stock and distribute drugs that have passed their expiration dates.

Another key focus of the investigation is the potential involvement of county staff or private health providers in the diversion of medicines meant for public use.

There are growing concerns about the practice of pilfering public drugs for private gain, a situation that the Senate aims to address.

"The committee should identify any gaps in the supply chain at the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency that could be contributing to the distribution of expired drugs or medicines with shorter shelf lives," said Osotsi.

There is also worry that healthcare workers may be inadvertently administering expired drugs to patients, further compromising their health.

"There is also a troubling trend where medical professionals in public hospitals are referring patients to privately-owned pharmacies for medicines," Osotsi added.

In an effort to curb the exploitation of patients, the Mombasa county government has recently announced that it will not renew the licenses of pharmacies and chemists located near public health facilities.

This move aims to ensure that these businesses do not unfairly profit from the needs of patients seeking essential medicines.

The Senate committee is also considering how technology can be used to improve the monitoring of drug stock levels and expiry dates in county hospitals.

One of the key recommendations expected from the investigation is the adoption of digital tools to prevent the distribution of expired medicines.

Further, the committee will review the current regulatory framework governing pharmacies near public hospitals to ensure they are not undermining the efforts of public health systems.

During a recent session with the committee, Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok expressed frustration over the ongoing issue, questioning why his administration was being blamed for drug shortages while dealing with expired stock.

"It’s ironic that I’m being accused of not having drugs in my facilities while, at the same time, drugs are expiring. The two cannot be true," Barchok said.

He appealed for Senate support to help solve the problem of expired drugs and improve medicine management in county facilities.

"We need the Senate’s support to figure out how we can address these issues,' he said.

As the investigation moves forward, the committee plans to visit county hospitals and hold discussions with relevant stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the expired drugs crisis.