Home » Government investigates KEMSA over supply of toxic ARVs – The Informer
News

Government investigates KEMSA over supply of toxic ARVs – The Informer

[ad_1]

The Ministry of Health is investigating Kenya Medical Supplies Authority(KEMSA) who allegedly released toxic Antiretroviral(ARVs) drugs to Kenyans.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said that they are looking into those claims though he reiterated that they have two issues with ARVs including change in use. 

“We have heard these claims, and we are looking into them. However, we have two issues with ARVs including the change in use,” Kagwe said.

“We cannot talk on the matter, we are investigating the issue and we will find a solution,” he said.

However, Kagwe said that there is enough ARVs in Kemsa’s warehouse and that distribution and disbursement of the drugs is ongoing, though many HIV patients are suffering.

Kemsa flagged off ARV drugs in 24,800 packs worth ksh1.2 billion to 31 counties last Thursday.

Another consignment was flagged off from Kisumu to the remaining 16 counties on Tuesday.

The phased-out drug is Zidovudine/ Lamivudine/ Nevirapine.

HIV positive patients reported adverse reactions to the drugs such as abdominal pain, rash, fatigue, headache, vomiting, and muscle pain, among others.

The drugs flagged off were from an old stock donated by the Global Fund and the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief(Pepfar) and had been held at the warehouse for months.

In March last year, Kemsa told stakeholders that it had destroyed the drugs.

Kenyans living with HIV/AIDS breathed a temporary sigh of relief last week when it was announced that the Kenyan government had cleared the way for the distribution of Ksh.2.1 billion worth of life-saving antiretroviral drugs, donated by the US government, that has been delayed at the port of Mombasa since January.

Though, the medical supplies that were stuck at the port remain in possession of USAID demanding that a private US based company, Chemonics International, be contracted to conduct the distribution before the drugs are released.

The consignment arrived on January 18,2021.

 

[ad_2]

Source link