This archive report was first published on 15 August 2019.
Nairobi County hospitals have been criticized for stockpiling expired drugs, posing a risk to patients.
According to a report by the Nairobi County Assembly Public Accounts Committee, Mbagathi County Hospital had expired drugs and pharmaceutical items worth over Sh1.4 million.
The report, based on the Auditor General's report for the year ended June 30, 2017, found that the hospital's management could not explain the reasons for the expiry of the drugs, which were mostly supplied by the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa).
"It was not clear whether the items were acquired following user requests and procurement plans. The hospital's pharmaceutical department and stores also had expired drugs and pharmaceutical items amounting to Sh1, 410, 826," the report stated.
The committee also criticized the hospital for not having a structured and predictable way of procuring drugs, relying instead on the department to supply the drugs.
"Procurement of drugs that are likely to expire in a short while leads to loss of public resources and in some instances, if used, exposes risks to patients in public hospitals," the report noted.
Among the expired drugs found at the hospital were paracetamol, antacids, dental cartridges, hydrogen peroxide, and ranitidine injection.
The county executive responded by blaming the prolonged doctors' strike from December 2016 to March 2017 and the nurses' strike from June 2017 to November 2017 for the expired drugs and non-pharmaceuticals.
"The consumption of medication and pharmaceutical items was very low because most of the drugs and pharmaceutical items that expired are normally utilized in the in-patient and at that time we did not have patients admitted in the wards," the executive said.
