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The Oral Morphine Solution, which has been missing from the stores for the last one year is now available, the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) has announced.

“Kemsa has regularised the availability of Oral Morphine Solution (OMS) ending months of biting shortage in various treatment centres countrywide,” read a statement from the agency.

OMS is a pain reliever used to treat moderate to severe pain.

Kemsa acting Chief Executive Officer Edward Njoroge said last December; the authority delivered a consignment of 10 kilogrammes of Morphine Powder to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) for reconstitution to OMS.

Average annual consumption of morphine is at 30kg from palliative care data collected from facilities across the country through the Ministry of Health reporting system (DHIS).

Njoroge confirmed that last month Kemsa collected 1,500 bottles of OMS from Kenyatta for onward distribution while the hospital retained 1,476 bottles for their use.

Last week, Kemsa again received 1,800 bottles while KNH retained 200 for their patients’ use.

“We have now commenced distribution of OMS to various sites around the country. This will relieve the pressure on health caregivers in patient pain management,” stated Njoroge.

Various facilities

The Kemsa boss indicated that Nyeri Provincial General Hospital would receive 620 bottles, Garissa Provincial General Hospital (400), Mwingi District Hospital (15), Ikuza Health Centres  in Kitui (five), Machakos Level Five (50) and Isiolo District Hospital (200).

Last July, Kemsa shipped 7.5 kilogramme to  KNH for reconstitution following which the consignment was distributed to various facilities nationwide.

Njoroge explained that KEMSA usually procures the morphine powder and then ships it to KNH for reconstitution before collecting and distributing to  other health facilities as per order requested.

He observed that pain management is a component of quality healthcare and is recognised as a fundamental human right; hence, the commendable strides made in stabilising OMS supplies in the country.

This has been achieved through collaboration between the Ministry of Health (MoH), Kemsa, the The Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA) and KNH.

Njoroge  further noted MoH has provided funds through drawing rights allocation for counties to procure OMS from Kemsa  using the  Universal Health Coverage (UHC) kitty.

In 2016, improving access to OMS for the treatment of moderate to severe pain was initiated with the partnership of MoH, Treat The Pain (TTP) -programme of the American Cancer Society, KEHPCA, Kenyatta National Hospital and Kemsa.

Njoroge affirmed Kemsa would continue to fulfill its mandate of procurement of morphine powder, delivery to KNH for reconstitution to OMS, distribution of morphine solution to health facilities including monitoring on Quality Assurance.

This, he averred was in line with the UHC goal of ensuring that all Kenyans have access to preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative care at minimum financial burden.