Reference Panel Meeting on Health held at SGC
The Strathmore Governance Centre (SGC) hosted an Experts Panel meeting on September 29th 2011 at Strathmore University. As a follow up of the September 2008 workshop at the same venue on Risk Management in the domestic Supply Chain of Health Commodities, a previous Experts’ meeting was convened to discuss which recommendations of the 2008 workshop required deeper research.
As a conclusion, Strathmore Governance Centre (SGC) decided to carry out the project titled “Resource Optimization in Delivering Health Care (RODH): A study on minimizing risks in the supply chain of health commodities”. On Thursday 29th September, the lead researcher Ms Yvonne Wangui Machira presented the technical report of the study. The focus of the study was deliberately put on the district level to seek evidence of what happens at the end of the supply chain.
The general objective of the study was to see how the existing resources are used applying existing policy tools and consequently review the performance of public health sector planning, budgeting, procurement and distribution of drugs and supplies with a view to establishing strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in the system. The interest of checking the use of resources meant that it could be easier to help reduce the risks commonly found. The findings have shown more than expected and they should further encourage policy-makers in the health ministries to review the practices relating to these areas, and may be set innovative standards that are achievable given the available resources. The district chosen for the study is Kajiado which is considered a hardship area and is relatively close to Nairobi. SGC sought guidance from the ministry of medical services in this choice. The collaboration of health care workers at the different health facilities was great.
The meeting was opened by Dr. George Njenga, DVC Research and Quality Assurance. The panel composed of some of the best experts in the domestic supply chain reacted very positively to the report. All members of the panel provided very useful insights which will certainly contribute to improving the report. SGC team is now reviewing the technical report to include the panel suggestions. Once finalized, it shall be published.
The next step will be for SGC to embark on the “Ways Forward” proposed during the meeting once the report is finalised. Among the suggestions is an on job training for the Health facility staff at the district level to improve skills in Governance and Management, Tracking and Reporting within the supply chain, basic IT and financial skills. There is an urgent need to assist in providing on how to manage health facilities with more integrity and accountability, involving, at the same time, the different communities at the local level.
The meeting was attended by expert representatives from Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS)- Dr. Charles Kariithi Mburu- Business Development Manager, USAID Kenya- Alice Micheni- Project Management Specialist- SCLogistics, World Bank- Dr. Ramana Gandham- Lead Health Specialist, Management Science for Health (MSH)- Dr. Ndinda Kusu- Senior Program Associate and Dr. Joseph Mukoko- Deputy Chief of Party, Clinton Access Health Initiative (CHAI)- Jackson Hungu- Deputy Country Director and Davis Karambi-Program Analyst, Ministry of Medical Services (MoMS)- Thomas Maina-Principal Health Economist, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MoPHS)- Dr. Jackson Omondi- Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Ghana Health Service- Dr. Kwasi Addai-Donkoh, Nursing Council of Kenya- Mercy Kasina- Nursing Officer in charge of Non-Pharmaceuticals, Insight Health- Dr. Nelson Gitonga- Lead Consultant, KNHCR- Dr. Samuel Tororei- Commissioner, Results in Health- Dr. Tina Patel- Senior Pharmaceutical Advisor and Health Facility Staff from Kajiado District where the study was carried out including Dr. Joan-Paula Bor- Medical Superintendent Ngong SDH, Dr. Jean Abuya- Pharmacist-Ngong SDH, Jemimah Njeri Lang’at- Kimana Health Centre, Loitoktok- Nurse in Charge and Steve Ndun’gu DHAO Kajiado
