Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua and Directorate of Criminal Investigation officers have smashed a syndicate which has been diverting drugs and equipment from government hospitals in the county.
The drugs are then sold to patients at private clinics especially in Machakos Town.
“I have this morning accompanied police officers as they raided private pharmacies and clinics in Machakos that are using medicines, lab reagents and equipment from Machakos government hospitals.” Read a statement on the governor’s Twitter handle.
The sting operation led to the arrest of four suspects from a private clinic opposite the Machakos Level 5 hospital.
They were after being found with drugs and equipment bearing government batch numbers and labels.
Among the recovered items included assorted drugs, reagents and X-ray films.
We were able to find unqualified people (quacks) treating people who had been referred to the clinics by some of my health workers.
I was shocked to see medicines and equipment clearly labeled as government property in private clinics. pic.twitter.com/YkqQyVLlik— Dr. Alfred Mutua (@DrAlfredMutua) February 7, 2019
Speaking to members of the public and the press outside the private clinics, Mutua said he had notified the DCI last week to investigate the theft of drugs and other medical supplies from the county’s referral facility as a result of numerous complaints from patients.