Health facilities in Kisii County have received pharmaceuticals worth Sh 54 million.

Governor James Ongwae today flagged off a consignment of pharmaceuticals to be distributed to Kisii Level Five Hospital and other health centres in the county.

Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa) operations director Joshua Obell and Corporation secretary Fredrick Wanyonyi were present during the flag off ceremony at the Kisii Level Five Hospital.

Also present were Director of Health services Dr Geoffrey Otomu and Executive Committee Members Samwel Osoro (Finance and economic planning), Ibrahim Moiro (trade and industry) and Skitter Ocharo (environment and natural resources).

Kisii Level 5 hospital has received drugs worth Sh 23 million while all level four hospitals (sub county hospitals) got drugs worth Sh 12 million. The county government has placed an order for drugs worth Sh 54 million.

Levels 3 and 2 hospitals (health centres and dispensaries) have received pharmaceuticals worth Sh 19 million. This excludes anti-retro viral, anti-malarial, family planning and anti-tuberculosis drugs which are supplied by the national government.

Ongwae announced plans by the county government to build a pharmaceutical depot to ease the procurement and supply of drugs to hospitals.

He said the county government has finalized plans to elevate Kisii Level Five Hospital to a teaching and referral facility in collaboration with Kisii University which will set up a school of medicine.

"My government is committed to ensuring all essential medicines and pharmaceuticals are readily available in all health facilities. We don't want to hear of cases where patients are asked to buy basic drugs. We have placed an order for a further consignment of drugs worth Sh 54million," said the governor.

Further, the county government has reached out to donors to invest in the healthcare sector. Minnesota and John Hopkins universities have expressed interest in the venture.