By KPC Reporter
The recently launched Nyamira County Revolving Health Products and Technologies Agency Fund emerged from the Nyamira County Revolving Health Products and Technologies Financing Bill, 2025, KPC can now comprehensively report.
It is a new system designed to eliminate persistent medicine shortages, stabilize supply across about 120 health facilities in the county, and ensure residents can consistently access affordable essential medicines in public hospitals.
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The fund, anchored in legislation, operates on a straightforward but transformative principle: money generated from the sale of medicines is reinvested back into purchasing more supplies, creating a continuous cycle that keeps drugs available.
Rather than depending entirely on inconsistent government disbursements, the county will now run a self-sustaining system that aims to ensure patients can reliably access treatment.
At the center of this reform is a specialized agency established to manage the procurement, storage, and distribution of medicines, vaccines, and other medical technologies.
Its mandate is to work closely with health facilities to identify what is needed, source the products in line with procurement laws, and deliver them efficiently across the county.
The broader goal is to guarantee the availability, affordability, and quality of essential health commodities.
For ordinary residents, the change is expected to be felt most directly in the availability of medicines.
For years, patients seeking care in public hospitals have often been told to buy prescribed drugs from private pharmacies due to stockouts.
The revolving fund is specifically designed to address this problem by introducing proper inventory systems, centralized warehousing, and continuous restocking based on demand.
The system does not mean that all medicines will be free, but it introduces regulated pricing to keep costs manageable.
Drugs will be sold at controlled rates that allow the system to recover costs and remain sustainable, while still being affordable to patients. Importantly, the framework allows for subsidies, meaning that certain medicines can be partially or fully funded by the government.
Where full subsidies apply, patients will receive those medicines at no cost.
Another key feature of the fund is the modernization of payment systems.
Patients will increasingly be able to pay for services through mobile money, digital platforms, and bank transfers, reducing reliance on cash transactions.
This shift is expected to improve convenience for patients while also enhancing transparency and accountability in how funds are handled.
The agency running the fund is structured to operate with a degree of independence, overseen by a board and supported by professional staff.
Its responsibilities extend beyond procurement and distribution to include ensuring that all medical products meet required quality standards, training healthcare workers on stock management, and properly disposing of expired or unsafe drugs.
By centralizing these functions, the county hopes to eliminate inefficiencies that have historically disrupted supply chains.
Funding for the system comes from several sources, including county government allocations, donor support, and revenue generated from the sale of medicines.
Initial capital was injected to get the system running, but the long-term vision is for it to sustain itself through the revolving model.
The framework also allows the county to collaborate with other partners and even other counties to lower costs through bulk purchasing and shared logistics.
To address concerns about misuse of funds and supplies, the law establishing the fund includes strict accountability measures.
The agency is required to maintain detailed financial records, undergo regular audits, and submit annual reports to the county government and assembly.
There are also strong penalties for offences such as theft, hoarding, diversion of drugs, or the sale of counterfeit or expired medicines, signaling a firm stance on integrity within the system.
Technology is expected to play a critical role in ensuring the fund’s success.
An integrated digital system will track medicines from procurement to distribution, improving efficiency and reducing opportunities for loss or mismanagement.
At the same time, the law emphasizes public participation, requiring community engagement forums where residents can receive information, provide feedback, and help shape how the system operates.
The county government says that the Fund represents a shift from a fragile supply model to one built on continuity and sustainability.
“I wish to assure the people of Nyamira County that we will no longer have shortage of drugs in our facilities,” said the governor Amos Nyaribo when he launched the fund recently before flagging off drugs worth Sh100 million to various hospitals under the new scheme.
Nyaribo said the county government plans to inject an additional Sh200 million into the programme to strengthen the fund and ensure no facility runs out of medicine.
“I wish to applaud our honorable members (of the County Assembly) for expeditiously working with my Government in enacting the Nyamira County Health Products and Technologies Revolving Fund Act, 2025 that has enabled us to flag off the first batch of medical commodities today,” he said.
If implemented effectively, it could significantly improve access to essential medicines, reduce the financial burden on patients, and restore confidence in public healthcare facilities.
Charles Keganda, a Member of County Assembly representing Bosamaro Ward led his colleagues to publicly drum up support for the fund during its launch, saying it was a game-changer that would fix challenges that have dogged healthcare provision in the county for a long time.
While residents have welcomed it, they have also pointed out that its success will be judged not by policy documents or promises, but by a simple outcome: whether they can walk into a hospital and find the medicines they need when they need them.
