The Nakuru County Government has responded to a recent Auditor General’s report revealing that Nakuru Level Five Hospital stored expired drugs and medical supplies valued at approximately Ksh 1.8 million. The audit, conducted on October 8, 2024, uncovered antiretroviral and tuberculosis medications supplied by the Global Fund through the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa) that had surpassed their expiration dates. Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. James Waweru acknowledged the issue but clarified that these specific drugs were not part of regular Kemsa supplies. He stated that while some of the expired medications have been destroyed, authorization is still pending for the disposal of the remaining stocks.
The Auditor General’s report criticized the hospital for lacking adequate internal controls to monitor stock levels and the nature of stored items, as required under Regulation 158(1)(b) of the Public Finance Management (County Governments) Regulations, 2015. This lapse not only led to financial losses but also posed potential health risks to patients.
In response, Nakuru County’s Health Chief Executive Committee (CEC) member, Dr. Gichuki Mungai, emphasized that the expired drugs were neither purchased by the county nor considered essential medicines. He noted that the hospital is unable to dispose of expired medications without undergoing a stringent audit and disposal process. Dr. Mungai also highlighted the importance of the Auditor General seeking responses before finalizing such reports. He reaffirmed the county’s commitment to maintaining high standards of accountability within the health department.
These developments have raised concerns among local stakeholders. David Kuria, Director of the Nakuru Human Rights Network, called for a comprehensive medical audit of the hospital to assess drug safety and supply adequacy. He urged the county government to establish clear policies governing drug procurement and supply to prevent issues like unnecessary stockpiling and drug expirations. Kuria stressed that hospitals should proactively verify the expiration dates of supplies before acceptance.
