Busia Governor Paul Otuoma Orders Immediate Closure of Chemists Outside Busia Referral Hospital
Busia Governor Paul Otuoma has ordered the immediate shutdown of drug shops operating outside the Busia County Referral Hospital, citing serious concerns over drug theft and conflict of interest.
During an impromptu early-morning inspection of the facility, the governor revealed that investigations had allegedly linked some of the chemists near the hospital gate to medical staff attached to the institution.
He warned that the arrangement had contributed to the loss of essential drugs from hospital stores, undermining service delivery and public trust. Otuoma issued a stern warning that structures housing the chemists risk demolition if the directive is ignored.
The governor further directed hospital management to urgently restore full operations in critical units, including the renal unit and CT scan services.
He stressed that adequate funds are available to repair or replace broken equipment, terming any service disruption due to non-functional machines as unacceptable.
The crackdown forms part of the county government’s broader push to strengthen accountability, curb malpractice, and enhance healthcare service delivery across public health facilities in Busia County.
