Meru Governor Mutuma M’Ethingia has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming the county’s healthcare sector by setting aside Sh300 million gor medicines this financial year.
The governor promised to end drug shortage in all the health facilities, address the welfare of the health workers and ensure Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital is upgraded to the level 6 status.
He spoke when he flagged off a consignment of medical supplies worth Sh28.9 million.
The governor said the drugs, aimed at ending medicine shortages across all health facilities, is part of a broader healthcare overhaul under his leadership.
“There is no room for excuses in delivering health services,” Governor M’Ethingia declared during the flag-off ceremony at the County headquarters on Friday.
He added, “We will no longer allow patients to be referred to private pharmacies to buy medicines. Health is wealth, and we must ensure our people are productive by keeping them healthy.”
As part of this effort, the county has allocated a record Sh 300 million in the 2025/2026 financial year solely for the procurement of medical drugs the highest healthcare allocation in Meru’s history.
Meru County Health Executive Denis Mugambi said the county had already procured medicines worth Sh 17 million earlier and will be purchasing an additional Sh12 million worth of drugs in the coming two weeks.
“We are ensuring every ward in the county receives a fair share of today’s consignment. We are partnering with the Mission for Essential Drugs Supply (MEDS) to guarantee consistent availability of medicines,” Mugambi said.
Titus Munene, Deputy Head of Commercial Services at MEDS, confirmed that all supplies meet regulatory standards and quality benchmarks.
He emphasized the variety of the consignment, which includes pharmaceuticals, non-pharmaceuticals, lab reagents, X-ray materials, and dental items.
“We’re planning to open a MEDS branch in Meru to improve access and reach remote areas more efficiently. Eventually, with the establishment of a manufacturing plant in Kisumu, we expect a reduction in drug prices,” Munene said.
However, Munene expressed concern about the high prevalence of cancer cases in Meru County, a sentiment echoed by Governor M’Ethingia.
“Cancer is our greatest enemy. We are determined to bring in specialists, modern machines, and cancer medicines. My government will establish a dedicated Cancer Directorate to coordinate response efforts and give the disease the focused attention it deserves,” M’Ethingia said.
He also appealed to residents to register for the Social Health Authority (SHA) in order to fully benefit from President William Ruto’s health services program.
Kiriinya Mwenda, Member of County Assembly, praised the governor’s efforts and reaffirmed the assembly’s commitment to passing the upcoming budget.
“Governor, you are walking the talk. The Sh 300 million health allocation is unprecedented. You’ve shown a genuine heart for addressing health challenges,” Kiriinya said.
