NAIROBI,Kenya, June 14 – The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) through its Supplementary Services Division (SSD) has entered into a 3-year partnership with Equity Afia to provide health products to all its 36 health facilities countrywide.
KEMSA SSD is as a strategic business unit that actively supports the government’s health agenda by providing quality essential medicines and medical supplies to National Referral Hospitals, faith-based organizations/mission hospitals, learning institutions, prisons, other government institutions, parastatals, non-governmental organizations and non-for profit organizations.
KEMSA Ag. CEO Mr. Edward Njoroge said the SSD supplies Essential Medicines and Medical Supplies (EMMS) worth over Kshs 600 Million annually that comprises of specialized health commodities for emerging health challenges in Kenya including anti-cancers, anti-diabetics, anti-hypertensics, and renal commodities among others.
“This partnership is part of KEMSA’s willingness to work with like-minded stakeholders in the public and private sector with a view of availing affordable healthcare services to all Kenyans,” he noted.
Mr. Njoroge explained that the SSD is intended to be a self-sustaining enterprise employing sound commercial principles without prejudicing the ordinary non-commercial supply system to public facilities.
He confirmed that the partnership between Equity Afia and KEMSA seeks to achieve the common goals and objectives shared in the field of provision of reliable, quality and affordable essential medicines and medical supplies to all Kenyans.
He said both parties have an outlined framework of mutual understanding, channels of communication, reporting and decision making mechanisms, responsibilities and harmonization of activities of common interest that will ensure successful operations.
“The 3-year renewable partnership signifies the collective aspirations of KEMSA and Equity Afia to further their shared goals and objectives in strengthening systems that deliver affordable health care to all,” he said.
Mr. Njoroge said KEMSA will continue to support health facilities in supplying essential medicines and medical commodities in order for them to meet their obligations.
He assured Equity Afia of uninterrupted supply of essential medicine in line with the Authority’s vision of being a world class provider of health supply chain solutions that save and transform lives.
At the same time, Mr. Njoroge commended Equity Afia for identifying KEMSA as an ideal partner in developing and enhancing cooperation in the supply of medical commodities.
Commenting on the partnership Equity Afia General Manager Mr. Gilbert Muriithi, said the choice of KEMSA was informed by its capacity to manage the EMMS supply chain in the country.
He said the medical franchise is operating a low pricing not for profit model and KEMSA being a supplier of affordable and quality health commodities will enable the patients not to dig deeper into their pockets.
“Our services are highly subsidized and through economies of scale we get from KEMSA, we push the same to the customer, “he clarified.
As Equity Afia, we are excited about this partnership since healthcare is in demand at the far to reach areas and our vision is to partner with KEMSA and help the government achieve Universal Health Coverage by the year 2022.
Mr. Muriithi said Equity Afia will continue to work with KEMSA and urged all healthcare providers to embrace the supply chain network offered by KEMSA.
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