At least Sh1.8 million worth of expired drugs and medical supplies were discovered in the stores of Nakuru Level Five Hospital, raising serious concerns over patient safety and the management of the region’s largest referral facility. The hospital, which serves Nakuru and at least six neighboring counties, including Baringo, Nyandarua, Kericho, Narok, Laikipia, and Samburu, was found to have stocked expired drugs, contrary to proper medical standards. This revelation has cast a shadow on the facility’s efficiency in managing its medical supplies and ensuring patient safety.
According to Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s latest report covering the 2023/2024 financial year, the facility failed to prevent the accumulation of expired drugs, a lapse that could endanger patients. The report indicates that a physical inspection by auditors on October 8, 2024, unearthed the expired drugs and medical supplies. The presence of expired drugs in the hospital’s storage raises questions about whether proper inventory management systems are in place and whether accountability measures exist for those responsible for stock control.
The audit report highlights significant weaknesses in the hospital’s internal controls over drug procurement and stock management. Gathungu noted that the hospital’s pharmacy department failed to establish a system to track stock levels efficiently and ensure that medications do not remain in storage beyond their expiry dates. This failure, according to the Auditor-General, is in violation of Regulation 158(1)(b) of the Public Finance Management (County Governments) Regulations, 2015, which requires institutions to maintain proper stock control measures. The report further indicates that despite the presence of expired drugs, hospital management could not provide a reasonable explanation for why such drugs remained in storage rather than being safely disposed of.
The presence of expired drugs in a referral hospital is alarming, given the potential health risks involved. Patients rely on hospitals to provide safe and effective treatment, and the discovery of expired drugs suggests a failure in upholding medical safety standards. The report warns that procuring drugs likely to expire within a short time not only results in the wastage of public resources but also exposes patients to potential health hazards. Poor stock management could also lead to essential drugs being unavailable when needed, further compromising patient care.
Following the release of the audit report, various stakeholders have expressed their concerns about the hospital’s management of medical supplies. Nakuru Human Rights Network Director David Kuria has called for a comprehensive medical audit to assess the hospital’s drug supply chain and ensure that such issues do not recur. He emphasized the need for a robust monitoring system that ensures expired drugs are promptly identified and removed from storage before they pose risks to patients. Kuria also urged the county government to implement a policy that provides clear guidelines on drug procurement and supply, ensuring accountability and efficiency in handling medical supplies.
The Nakuru County government sources its drugs and medical supplies primarily from the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa), but it also procures from other suppliers when necessary. In the 2023/2024 financial year, the county procured drugs and medical supplies worth Sh114.6 million from Kemsa and alternative suppliers. However, the failure to monitor stock levels and prevent wastage raises questions about the county’s oversight mechanisms. Experts have suggested that the county should adopt digital inventory management systems to track drug supplies in real time, reducing the chances of stockpiling expired medication.
The revelations from the audit have renewed calls for reforms in Kenya’s public health sector, particularly in the management of drug supplies. Cases of expired drugs being discovered in public hospitals have been reported in different counties, highlighting a systemic issue that requires urgent intervention. Medical experts argue that hospitals must conduct regular internal audits to prevent stockpiling of drugs that may go unused. Additionally, they recommend that procurement officers conduct more thorough assessments before placing large orders to ensure that only essential and high-demand medicines are stocked.
The Auditor-General’s findings have sparked discussions about accountability in the public health sector, with some calling for disciplinary action against those responsible for poor inventory management at Nakuru Level Five Hospital. Health activists and patient welfare groups have urged the county government to take swift action in addressing the matter, emphasizing that public hospitals must maintain the highest standards of care and professionalism. The next steps taken by both the hospital management and the county government will determine whether the issue is resolved or becomes yet another unresolved crisis in the country’s healthcare system.
