Vihiga Governor Ottichilo warns medical staff over drug theft

Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo has warned medical staff against “theft and wastage” of drugs in public facilities.

Dr Ottichilo said the illegal act was the cause of lack of drugs in health facilities over the years.

Speaking when he flagged off drugs worth Sh30 million for distribution to public hospitals, the governor said his administration had put in place a “monitoring mechanism” to track medicines.

The acting CEO of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa), Mr Philip Omondi, revealed that his organisation was piloting a technology to track supplies to health facilities.

Kemsa has been contracted by the county to supply drugs every three months. The next supply will be in March.

Theft of drugs and other pharmaceuticals has been rampant in health facilities.

But Dr Ottichilo said: “We will not allow any drugs to be stolen.

“No one will get our drugs and sell them in the private market.”

In attendance were the deputy governor, Dr Patrick Saisi, county executives, doctors and nurses.