By The PPH Foundation
Access to essential medicines is a cornerstone of maternal health. In Kenya, timely availability of uterotonics such as oxytocin, misoprostol, and tranexamic acid is critical for preventing and treating postpartum haemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal deaths in the country. Despite national policies, stock-outs and procurement delays continue to threaten maternal survival, particularly in rural and remote health facilities.
According to the 2023 Kenya Health Sector Supply Chain report, approximately 18 percent of public health facilities experienced stock-outs of oxytocin in the past year. Misoprostol and tranexamic acid availability were also inconsistent, with only 62 percent of facilities reporting uninterrupted supplies. These gaps are often compounded by weak procurement planning, logistical challenges, and insufficient coordination between national and county health departments.
Dr Kireki Omanwa, Co-Lead of the End PPH Initiative, emphasizes the human cost of these gaps: “Every delay in accessing life-saving medicines can mean the difference between life and death for a mother experiencing severe bleeding. Strengthening supply chains is not just a technical exercise; it is a moral imperative.”
Efforts to address these challenges include improved forecasting based on facility-level consumption data, centralized procurement with real-time stock monitoring, and partnerships with private sector distributors to enhance supply reliability. The Ministry of Health’s Kenya Medical Supplies Authority has also piloted data dashboards to track medicine availability, enabling rapid response to emerging shortages.
Securing essential medicines requires investment in procurement systems, infrastructure, and trained personnel, ensuring that every health facility is equipped to respond to PPH emergencies. Reliable access to life-saving drugs transforms maternal health outcomes, reduces preventable deaths, and strengthens trust in the health system.
Sources:
• Kenya Health Sector Supply Chain Report, Ministry of Health, 2023
• KDHS 2022: Maternal Health Indicators, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics
• WHO, “Essential Medicines for Maternal and Newborn Health,” 2023
• PMNCH, Global Progress on Maternal Mortality, 2022
• End PPH Initiative Maternal Health Data Dashboard, 2025
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