By Jael Nyabuti & Dorris Kyalo
The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has announced a planned closure of its Nairobi and regional distribution centres for five days.
This closure will take place from July 1st to July 5th, 2024 for the annual stock-taking exercise. During this period, the receipts and dispatches of medical supplies will be temporarily suspended.
“We wish to notify our esteemed customers and the general public that we shall close our Nairobi and Regional Distribution Centers for the annual stock-take effective Monday 1st to Friday 5th July 2024,” KEMSA stated in a public notice released on Tuesday.
The annual stock-take is a significant part of Kemsa’s operational activities, aimed at maintaining transparency and accountability in the management of medical supplies.
Despite the suspension of regular operations, Kemsa has assured its stakeholders that emergency cases will still be attended to during this period.
This measure is in place to ensure that critical medical supplies are still available for urgent needs, minimizing any potential impact on healthcare services.
“We shall resume our normal operation from Monday 8th July 2024,” Kemsa said.
Therefore, the receipts and dispatches of medical supplies will continue as usual, ensuring a steady supply to health facilities across the country.
The temporary closure of Kemsa’s distribution centres is a proactive step towards ensuring that all records are up-to-date and that any discrepancies in stock levels are identified and addressed.
This helps in preventing stockouts and overstocking, thus ensuring that healthcare facilities receive the right quantities of supplies as needed.
Customers and the general public are advised to make necessary arrangements to mitigate any inconvenience that might arise during the closure period.
Healthcare facilities are particularly encouraged to plan to ensure that they have adequate supplies to cover the five-day stock-take period.
Kemsa’s five-day closure for stock-taking may pose a temporary disruption, it is a crucial activity that underpins the organization’s commitment to excellence in the management of medical supplies.
With the assurance that emergency cases will be attended to and normal operations resuming shortly after, Kemsa continues to prioritize the health and well-being of the nation.