The directive by the government to process imports at the inland container depot in Nairobi is causing pain for medical suppliers who are experiencing stock-outs due to delays in clearing consignments.

Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS), a regional drugs supplier, says this comes at a time when demand for drugs and medical supplies is growing steadily as the government implements universal healthcare coverage programme through the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

MEDS Managing Editor Dr Jane Masiga said today the organization, which drugs supplies to counties and national government as well as faith-based health facilities countrywide, has experienced stock outs affecting 201 items over the past seven months, costing it up to Ksh114 million in lost sales.

“Due to the congestion at the Nairobi inland depot, consignments are taking weeks to clear and that affects our stocking since we are not able to replenish in good time,” she said during the annual MEDS suppliers conference held at its head offices on Mombasa Road.

The theme of the conference was, ‘Partnering with Manufacturers and Suppliers of Health Products and Technologies in Promoting Universal Health Coverage’

Dr Masiga said the situation has also been complicated by delayed payments by health facilities under the NHIF. While NHIF, which is working to have all Kenyans covered, has become the biggest healthcare financing programme in the country, she said it had come with some challenges.

She noted that as a result of delays in reimbursements from NHIF, health facilities have in the recent past found it hard to cater for their contractual obligations of paying service providers and medical suppliers.

Dr Masiga said the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is critical in promoting uptake of health services and realization of the Big 4 agenda of affordable health care for all.  She said NHIF enrolment had increased over the past 5 years resulting in many more patients accessing healthcare services and hence higher demand for health commodities

Dr Masiga said to mitigate the situation MEDS was negotiating with its suppliers to extend their credit period from between 30 and 60 days to 90 days to sustain supply.

Chief guest at the event Dr Andrew Mulwa, the CEC Health in Makueni and Chairman of CEC forum for health, revealed that the Government was expected to inject Ksh60 billion into the health sector in the next five years to strengthen the hiring of human resource as well as plug gaps in commodity availability.

The conference provided a forum for suppliers to offer feedback and explore ways of enhancing their partnership with MEDS.