Lodwar- June 24, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)
The 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.
The inspection exercise, led by the County Executive for Health and Sanitation Dr Epem Joseph Esekon, seeks to assess service delivery levels and investigate the management of medical supplies at the facility level.
Dr Epem said the initiative aims to identify discrepancies in supply handling and strengthen accountability within the county’s health system.
“Our goal is to support facilities in correcting irregularities and ensure medical supplies reach the intended patients,” he said.
The CECM also mentioned plans for the adoption of a digital inventory tracking system to curb losses and improve transparency.
“Our clients are not happy. Essential drugs are reportedly not reaching public health facilities as intended,” he noted.
Dr Gilchrist Lokoel, Chief Officer for Medical Services, expressed concern over inconsistent deliveries and missing drugs despite a functioning supply chain.
“Facilities are well-stocked, yet residents are not receiving essential medication. This raises serious questions about internal handling and possible diversion,” said Dr. Lokoel.
Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health Services Janerose Tioko emphasized the need to restrict access to drug stores and introduce strict accountability.
“Only authorized personnel should handle medical stock. We must hold responsible individuals accountable for all inventory and dispensed items,” she said.
The probe was prompted in part by a recent incident of drug theft captured on surveillance cameras at Lodwar County Referral Hospital (LCRH).
The Acting LCRH CEO Nancy Kinyonge acknowledged the irregularities and backed the department’s intervention. “We have flagged repeated inconsistencies between pharmacy stock and dispensing records, indicating missing drug units. We welcome this exercise to help secure our system,” she said.
The exercise 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.
