Situational Report on Tuberculosis Medication Shortages in Kenya

Reports from various counties in Kenya indicate a critical shortage of tuberculosis (TB) medications, affecting both initial and continuation phases. Frontline health workers and patients are facing significant challenges, leading to a potential public health crisis.

Affected Regions:

Taita Taveta: No TB medications available; residents forced to share limited supplies.

Migori: Severe scarcity of TB drugs, resulting in considerable suffering among TB clients.

Bomet: No Anti-TB drugs, especially in the intensive phase, across multiple health facilities.

Makueni: Ongoing shortage of TB drugs, septrin syrup, and septrin tabs.

Specific Incidents:

• In a Sub-county with 14 TB sites, only the RH continuation phase was received, creating challenges in managing TB cases.
• Kanyakine Subcounty Hospital reported no TB drugs, leading to patients being turned away, with a concerning lack of empathy noted.
• Shortages have led to improvisation, with health workers serving patients with drugs from supply boxes rather than dedicated patient packs.

New TB patients are pending treatment, and existing patients lack essential medications, raising concerns about disease management and potential resistance.

The crisis affects various healthcare facilities, including sub-county hospitals, health centers, and dispensaries, leading to strained resources and overwhelmed staff.

Patients are forced to pay for essential diagnostic services, such as chest X-rays, exacerbating financial burdens.

The situation is critical as today marks a reporting day for health facilities, intensifying the need for immediate action.

Prolonged shortages raise concerns about the development of drug resistance, posing further challenges for future TB management.

Call to Action:

Urgent intervention is needed from relevant authorities to address the medication shortage.

Immediate measures should be taken to ensure the timely supply of TB drugs to affected areas.

Public awareness is crucial to garner support and facilitate a collective response to this pressing public health issue.

This situational report aims to provide a snapshot of the current challenges faced by multiple regions in Kenya regarding TB medication shortages. Swift and coordinated efforts are essential to mitigate the impact on public health and prevent further complications.