PREMIUM Expired drugs, medical supplies cost Kemsa Sh5bn in four years Kemsa has lost Sh5bn in expired drugs and medical supplies since 2022. News 18 min ago

The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) is in a race against time to eliminate financial losses arising from expired and damaged medical supplies, which stood at Sh569 million in the financial year ending June 30, 2025.

Appearing before the Senate Health Committee on Thursday, Kemsa Chief Executive Officer Waqo Dulacha said they have managed to reduce financial losses occasioned by expired and damaged medical commodities to less than three per cent of what they procure annually, which is about Sh17 billion.

The Kemsa boss told the committee that a significant proportion of the losses occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic period, which was characterised by emergency procurement of strategic health commodities, global supply chain disruptions, uncertain demand patterns, donor-supported emergency stocks, and the need to maintain elevated national preparedness levels.