The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has formally activated its automated purchase order generation system.

As part of its transformation journey, which includes integrating information technology systems, KEMSA has unveiled an electronic Local Purchase Order (LPO) generation process.

The automation of the Procurement process and elimination of manual procedures that require human intervention, such as the issuance of LPO, is also part of the Authority’s ethics and integrity assurance strategy.

Speaking at an engagement session with Federation of Kenya Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (FKPM) officials, KEMSA Acting Chief Executive Officer John Kabuchi said the automation of critical functions would enhance the Authority’s efficiency levels.

The KEMSA Team Leader told the FKPM officials, led by Chairperson and Regal Pharmaceuticals CEO Rohin Vora that in the revised procurement process, the certified electronic LPO would be sent to the supplier via email in three days after signing the contract.

“Automating the LPO process will ensure that we eliminate the time spent for suppliers to pick the physical copy before making deliveries of medical supplies,” explained Kabuchi. “Such automation also eliminates the need for human intervention, which has been a key organisational integrity risk area,” he added.

The electronic local purchase order will be encrypted with a unique password for security purposes.

KEMSA, Kabuchi explained, has prioritised the automation of various supply chain processes to improve end-to-end visibility.

“Soon, we will also automate contracting so that suppliers don’t come to KEMSA to sign the contracts but rather they shall be emailed to them for their perusal and signing before submitting to us. By doing this, we will reduce the delays that occur when the signing parties are not available at the same time.”

By Fred Odanga Azelwa.