KENYA – Turkana residents have raised concerns over the persistent shortage of essential drugs in some health facilities within the county.
They claim that when they take patients to hospitals, they are often asked to purchase medication from outside pharmacies due to the lack of supplies in the facilities.
However, through the Ministry of Health, the Turkana county government maintains that sufficient drugs are available in health facilities.
Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai dispatched a team from the Ministry of Health to verify the availability of drugs after claims that many health facilities lack essential medications.
Residents speaking to the Star revealed that some health facilities are indeed out of essential drugs, a situation that has left them feeling frustrated and helpless.
“There are no drugs in our hospital. If you are told to buy Panadol outside the hospital, what does that tell you? The situation is pathetic,” James Esekon said.
Esther Ekitela, a resident of Nakwamekwi, couldn’t remember the last time they bought malaria and Panadol drugs for minors from a chemist, as they used to get these drugs for free at the hospital.
Joseph Egelan, a human rights activist, urged the Ministry of Health to expedite the procurement of essential drugs to save patients’ lives.
“I believe the Ministry of Health has records from every health facility in the county. There’s no need to go around checking if there are drugs. The truth is, there are no drugs,” he said.
An officer in charge of a health facility in Turkana Central, speaking anonymously, confirmed the shortage of essential drugs.
He stressed the urgency of the situation, saying, “We are facing a crisis we have never encountered before. There is an upsurge in malaria cases; last week, we had more than 150 positive cases in a single day. Currently, we don’t have essential drugs like malaria treatments and Panadol for patients,” the officer disclosed.
Turkana County Chief Officer for Medical Services, Gilchrist Lokoel, stated that recent visits to some health facilities showed that most essential drugs for common ailments are available, with supplies sufficient for about a month.
He mentioned that the latest consignments were delivered between March and April 2024. Lokoel added that non-pharmaceutical supplies are well-stocked, and program commodities like antimalarials, TB, and HIV treatments are plentiful in most facilities visited.
“Our spot checks indicate that essential commodities are generally available to serve the population of Turkana in our health facilities,” Lokoel said.
Despite the county government’s assurances, residents face challenges accessing essential drugs in some health facilities.
The Ministry of Health is working to fast-track the procurement of essential supplies based on consumption data to address the shortage and ensure that residents can access necessary medications.
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