Mombasa Governor Cracks Down on Chemists Near Public Hospitals

The Mombasa devolved government has initiated a crackdown targeting chemists located in close proximity to public hospitals.

Governor Abdulswamad Nassir announces that these businesses will not have their licenses renewed, citing their exploitation of patients who are compelled to purchase medications and medical supplies outside of hospital facilities. During the launch of the Social Health Authority (SHA) mass registration initiative on Monday, Governor Nassir raised concerns regarding the apparent scarcity of available medications despite the county's significant procurement efforts.

The government had allocated Sh153 million for drugs in 2024, with an additional Sh72 million provisioned for this year. Yet, patients continue to report that essential drugs are unavailable, a circumstance the governor terms "criminal." To address this issue, the governor mandates that pharmacists within public hospitals provide explanations for any directives given to patients regarding purchasing drugs from external chemists, despite the availability of those medications within the hospitals.

He recounts a troubling instance at Likoni Hospital where patients were directed to specific chemists, even as medications sat on hospital shelves. In response, the governor outlines plans to digitize the tracking of drug movements within the health system, aimed at ensuring that patients can access necessary medical services without obstruction.

This initiative forms part of a series of contentious policies under Governor Nassir's administration, which has also faced backlash for banning muguka and raising levies for bars to combat drug abuse in the coastal city. The Kenya Medical Association expressed opposition last year to the county's imposition of additional business permit levies, arguing that local healthcare providers were already burdened by multiple licensing requirements.

Governor Nassir emphasizes the pressing health care needs in Mombasa, revealing that 1.6 million residents utilized public hospitals in the previous year. However, only 264,000 individuals have registered with the SHA to date. In an effort to improve registration rates, the county government is conducting training sessions aimed at facilitating this process.

While treatment and medications are provided free of charge at level two and three hospitals, challenges remain at level four and higher facilities, where financial assessments are required to gauge patients' ability to pay.