Nakuru PGH Decentralizes Pharmacy Services To Ease Congestion, Tighten Medicine Controls
The County has allocated KSh8.15 billion to health in the 2026/27 financial year, including a planned KSh1.817 billion for the procurement of drugs and non-pharmaceuticals, up from KSh1.545 billion in the current
By Suleiman Mbatiah
The County Government of Nakuru has begun decentralizing pharmacy services at Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital (NCRTH), formerly PGH-Nakuru.
Hospital Director Santosh Devaraj said the move is aimed at reducing queues, improving access to medicines and strengthening accountability in the management of medical commodities.
The referral facility serves patients from Nakuru and eight neighboring counties across the Rift Valley and Central regions, handling more than 2,000 patients daily and underscoring the need to streamline services and ease pressure on the facility.
While chairing a meeting with departmental managers, Devaraj said the decentralized model is expected to ease congestion at the main pharmacy by bringing dispensing services closer to patients in different departments.
“It will also enable the hospital to monitor medicine consumption more closely, strengthen commodity tracking and improve accountability,” he stated.
The approach is also intended to help the hospital identify gaps in supplies earlier, reduce the risk of stock-outs and strengthen controls against theft or diversion of medical commodities.
Devaraj said the hospital would also prioritize equipment maintenance and security during the second quarter as it seeks to improve efficiency and service delivery.
This will help reduce service disruptions, protect public assets and ensure medical equipment remains available and functional when needed.
At the same time, he said, prioritizing equipment maintenance will extend the lifespan of hospital equipment, protect public investment and improve efficiency by reducing delays caused by breakdowns.
He called on staff to work as a team, remain accountable and ensure public resources are used responsibly.
“Our focus in Quarter Two is on strengthening our systems, maintaining equipment, improving security and ensuring that public resources are used prudently for better patient care,” he noted.
The pharmacy changes align with Governor Susan Kihika’s manifesto commitment to strengthen healthcare systems, improve medicine tracking and ensure essential medical supplies are available where needed.
The County has allocated KSh8.15 billion to health in the 2026/27 financial year, including a planned KSh1.817 billion for the procurement of drugs and non-pharmaceuticals, up from KSh1.545 billion in the current
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