Turkana: Turkana County Department of Health and Sanitation has launched a spot check and accountability audit targeting all public hospitals and dispensaries following reports of suspected drug diversion from referral to peripheral health facilities.
According to Kenya News Agency, the inspection exercise is led by the County Executive for Health and Sanitation, Dr. Epem Joseph Esekon, and aims to assess service delivery levels while investigating the management of medical supplies at the facility level. Dr. Epem stated that the initiative seeks to identify discrepancies in supply handling and strengthen accountability within the county's health system. The goal is to support facilities in correcting irregularities and ensure medical supplies reach the intended patients.
The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) also mentioned plans to adopt a digital inventory tracking system to curb losses and improve transparency. Dr. Epem noted that clients are reportedly unhappy as essential drugs are not reaching public health facilities as intended. Dr. Gilchrist Lokoel, Chief Officer for Medical Services, expressed concern over inconsistent deliveries and missing drugs despite a functioning supply chain. He highlighted that facilities are well-stocked, yet residents are not receiving essential medication, raising serious questions about internal handling and possible diversion.
Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health Services, Janerose Tioko, emphasized the need to restrict access to drug stores and introduce strict accountability measures. She advocated that only authorized personnel should handle medical stock, and responsible individuals must be held accountable for all inventory and dispensed items.
The probe was prompted in part by a recent incident of drug theft captured on surveillance cameras at Lodwar County Referral Hospital (LCRH). Acting LCRH CEO Nancy Kinyonge acknowledged the irregularities and supported the department's intervention, noting that repeated inconsistencies between pharmacy stock and dispensing records have been flagged, indicating missing drug units. The exercise is welcomed to help secure the system.
The audit was conducted by a technical team comprising directors and sub-county health officers. Findings and feedback from the ongoing inquiry by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations will inform reforms in medical supply management across the county's health facilities.