Health

Boost for essential drugs supply on the Plateau

In October 2022, the Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency (PS-DMCMA) was established by law to address the challenges associated with access, quality, availability, and affordability of drugs and other medical commodities in the government-owned health facilities in the State.

The Agency aimed to ensure that all state-owned tertiary, secondary, and primary health facilities get drugs from one reliable source so that the perennial ‘out of stock’ syndrome would end as the Agency was to among other things, develop a standard operating procedure to halt all hindrances to access to quality and affordable drugs.

However, many citizens were unaware of the existence of such an Agency as it quickly went redundant almost immediately after take-off.

Coming on board in May 2023, the State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, knowing the importance of having a centralized body to oversee the procurement, warehousing, distribution, and monitoring of drugs and medical supplies in the State government-owned hospitals and clinics, revived the comatose Agency to ensure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of essential drug and medical commodities.

The Governor appointed Pharmacist Kim Bot as the Executive Secretary of the Agency as the Agency begins collaboration with healthcare providers and stakeholders to strengthen the healthcare system in the State; create awareness to enlighten citizens of its functions and ensure the implementation of an efficient procurement system to ensure timely acquisition of drugs and medical commodities.

Having mapped out the distribution channels to ensure equitable access to healthcare facilities across the State, the Agency has also worked out monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the availability and utilization of drugs and medical supplies.

Governor Mutfwang is supporting the Agency to engage in the local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals while harmonizing partnerships with local and international pharmaceutical industries.

AfDB: We’ve invested $10.9bn in Nigeria

Speaking recently when an inspection team from the Federal Ministry of Health and other partners visited the upgraded medical store to ascertain its readiness for operation, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cletus Shurkuk restated Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s commitment to the development of the health sector and commended the State government’s efforts towards the full operation of the warehouse.

Shurkuk said the government was doing everything within its power to relocate the warehouse to its permanent site and also recruit qualified staff for the Agency.

Also, Pharmacist Bot commended the approval and release of the counterpart fund of over N88million and provision of other facilities saying it was a mark of the Governor’s commitment to the full operationalization of the warehouse.

The inspection team leader, Pharmacist Nanna Mangni, also acknowledged Governor Mutfwang’s efforts saying the steps taken so far are commendable.

However, citizens appreciate Governor Mutfwang’s repositioning of the Agency, saying it would check the proliferation of fake drugs in the State.

The Star

Editor

Recent Posts

FG unveils free cesarean sections for women to combat maternal mortality

The Federal Government has unveiled a nationwide free cesarean section initiative aimed at reducing Nigeria’s…

2 hours ago

National grid collapses for second time in 3 days

The national grid has again collapsed, leading to a nationwide blackout. This is the second…

5 hours ago

‘Doing harm to kids’: Australia to ban children under 16 from social media

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to ban children under 16 from social media,…

8 hours ago

Lagos govt shuts churches, hotels over noise pollution

The Lagos State Government has shut churches, including the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)…

8 hours ago

Makinde approves N80,000 minimum wage for Oyo workers

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has approved a minimum wage of N80,000 for civil servants…

10 hours ago

Stock market reverses gain as investors lose N337bn

The Nigerian stock market reversed its gains from the previous session, recording a N337 billion…

10 hours ago

This website uses cookies.