Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has dismissed claims that there is a drug shortage in some of the public health facilities across the County.

Speaking yesterday during the confirmation of 187 health workers, Ms Kihika said that the main issue is not shortage of drugs, but a lack of awareness on the kind of drugs available at different facilities.

According to her, drugs of different ailments are distributed according to a facility’s ability to handle the said illness.

Read: Reprieve as county distributes Sh45m medical supplies

"Whenever we go for meetings, the main issue that stands out is that there are no drugs in the local dispensaries and hospitals, yet the county has disbursed drugs to the facilities,” she said.

She continued to say that this issue arises because patients who visit these hospitals do not understand that there are drugs only found in higher level hospitals.

"For example, when you go to a level 2 hospital you would not expect to find medicine for diabetes. Yet diseases such as diabetes are such common diseases, especially as one ages" she says.

Recently, some residents took to social media lamenting over what they termed a tragic drug shortage in various public health facilities across Nakuru County.

Related: Health on Trial: Nakuru's well-funded health sector with poor service delivery

Since she came into office, Ms Kihika has disbursed medicine and non-pharmaceutical equipment worth over Sh 272 million, with the last consignment being flagged off on December 15, 2023.

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Kihika shuts down drug shortage claims, as Nakuru residents lament on social media

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Bret Sanya