Kenyan Government to Introduce Digital Tracking System for Medicines to Curb Wastage: “It Must End”

• The Ministry of Health announced new interventions aimed at addressing the high costs related to the expiry of drugs
• Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said part of the intervention involved introducing a digital tracking system
• Duale said the system will track all drugs coming into the country, from the time they are delivered at the KEMSA until they are prescribed
• It is estimated that Kenya loses as much as KSh 9.5 billion annually due to expired drugs at KEMSA stores and hospitals

Mombasa: The government has launched a new digital tracking system to address losses related to drug expiration.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the system will track the country’s use of medicine from when it’s delivered at the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) stores to prescription in hospitals.

Duale made the revelation in response to calls from the Director General of Health, Patrick Amoth, regarding the need to address wastage and the expiry of drugs at KEMSA stores and hospitals.

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"Never again should we experience medicines expiring at KEMSA or any medical facilities in the country. We must deal with this problem during my leadership. This will stop,” the CS said when he graced the 45th Annual Scientific Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) in Mombasa.

How much does Kenya lose due to the expiry of drugs?

Amoth had earlier noted that the country loses over KSh 9.5 billion annually due to wastage from expired drugs.

An additional KSh 600 million is used to safely dispose of the expired drugs to prevent them from being sold to unsuspecting members of the public.

“There is a lot of wastage in our systems, which becomes evident when you look at the quantity of expired medicines, many of which are essential,” Amoth said.

“A study conducted by the Ministry of Health on the expiration rate of medicines in Kenya shows it is at 32 %, compared to the global practice of 25%,” he added.

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Aside from addressing concerns around expiry of the drugs, the government has also announced several interventions aimed at minimising the risk of manipulation, theft and circulation of counterfeit medical supplies.

Duale said part of the intervention is ensuring every patient interaction, prescription, and transaction is digitally recorded and monitored.

He further called for public support as the ministry advances the digital transformation of healthcare, including the integration of community pharmacies into the national digital superhighway.

In addition, Duale reaffirmed the government’s commitment to boosting local pharmaceutical manufacturing under the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya initiative.

Why did government shut down 700 hospitals?

Previously, TUKO.co.ke reported that the government had closed down over 700 health facilities for non-compliance.

Duale said the health facilities had not complied with the requirements under the new Social Health Authority (SHA).

An additional 300 health facilities were downgraded. According to Duale, the move is part of the government's effort to transform the health sector.

A crackdown on non-compliant health facilities is expected to continue across the country.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke