USAid links up with Kemsa in Sh65bn drugs supply deal

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“What it (agreement) means is that the right drugs will get to the right people at the right time because the whole system is more efficient,” Karen Freeman, the USAid mission director in Kenya said Monday.

The US development agency USAid will start using the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa) supply chain to distribute contraceptives, anti-malaria and anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs in a Sh65 billion deal as it looks to improve on efficiency.

The five-year pact will see Kemsa procure and distribute the drugs across the country earning the agency Sh6.1 billion in fees.

USAid has been running a parallel logistics system. But the new deal is expected to eliminate the overlaps with Kemsa, enhancing efficiency and the quantity of drugs supplied.

“What it (agreement) means is that the right drugs will get to the right people at the right time because the whole system is more efficient,” Karen Freeman, the USAid mission director in Kenya said Monday.

“The overall quantity of drugs will increase but the most important thing is the efficiency in delivery will increase.” Other items under the deal are HIV/Aids test kits, malaria test kits and maternal and child-health equipment.

An increase in the amount of ARVs supplied could see more persons living with HIV start getting the medicines earlier than the current case where those infected are put on ARV drugs if they have a CD4 cell count of 500. State policy, supported by research favours earliest possible intervention.