MILLENIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION VICE PRESIDENT VISITS KEMSA.

By Dominic Kabiru: Public Relations Manager- KEMSA
Millennium Challenge Corporation is a United States of America government corporation that is designed to work with selected countries in the world, which in turn receive the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) assistance. The   Millennium Challenge Account is a partnership that is built on several key principles including a focus on sustainable growth, country ownership, inclusiveness, accountability and emphasis on results that is to be reflected throughout the development and implementation of MCA programs. Kenya is a current beneficially of the Millennium Challenge Account in the public procurement reform strategy and the health sector. The principal partners of the MCA threshold program in Kenya are the Ministries of Finance, Health, the new Public Procurement Oversight Authority and the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA).

Consistent with the belief that effective development assistance requires a broad base of support in a country; the Millennium Challenge Corporation has been keen that the Millennium Challenge Account in the health sector is implemented by a variety of organizations, NGO’s and private sector entities.

In Kenya’s healthcare sub-sector, Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) has been identified as the agency to implement meaningful reform measures in the healthcare service delivery in areas of supply chain management of public health resources and supervision of medical supplies to rural health facilities.

During her visit to the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency headquarters, Ms Maureen Harrington, the Vice President of the Millennium Challenge Corporation in charge of Policy and International Relations, acknowledged the proactive and change management style that is being adopted by the current management of KEMSA in improving healthcare procurement and delivery.
“I am glad to note that KEMSA’s procurement capacity has been strengthened and accountability is being embraced as the first measure in improving healthcare service delivery to all Kenyans. I encourage the management of KEMSA to further enhance their supply chain system.” She said.
During the boardroom meeting, the acting Chief Executive Officer of KEMSA Dr. John Munyu, informed the visiting Millennium Challenge Corporation Vice President that KEMSA had created efficiencies in the public sector medical supplies chain by training its staff on corporate governance and currently the agency is working towards improving efficiencies in procurement, warehousing and logistics.
“The funds that shall be allocated to KEMSA under the Millennium Challenge Account healthcare service delivery component of the medical supplies shall go as far as possible in meeting drug needs of Kenyans seeking services from public health facilities,” he told the delegation that included officials from United States Agency for International development (USAID). KEMSA, he said “has now sorted out the problems of product quality, and instituted measures to ensure products are available at the right time at the right place in the right quantities.” Dr Munyu further said that the agency was committed to adding value to medical supplies chain that will result in increasing customer satisfaction and rationalisation of drug requirements.