By Edito By Our Editor
The Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA) says it has cleared an inherited debt of N1.178 billion and increased its stock keeping units (SKUs) from 362 in July 2023 to 937.
The Director-General of the agency, Pharm. Gali Sule, disclosed this at the agency’s 12th Health Supply Chain Quarterly Review Meeting in Kano.
Sule said the agency’s financial position had also improved from a deficit of N102 million at the inception of the present administration to a reported fund value of about N943 million.
He attributed the development to improved financial management, increased availability of health commodities and efforts to strengthen accountability in the agency’s operations.
The director-general expressed optimism that the agency’s fund value would reach N1 billion before the end of Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration, provided the current level of government support and operational efficiency was sustained.
He said the quarterly review meeting had been rebranded as the Kano State Health Supply Chain Quarterly Review Meeting to provide a common platform for health programmes, programme officers, zonal warehouse managers and other stakeholders to assess performance and address challenges.
According to him, the expanded scope of the meeting is intended to strengthen coordination, improve information sharing and promote evidence-based decisions in the procurement, storage and distribution of essential medicines and medical consumables.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, said the meeting was an opportunity to evaluate the agency’s performance, review progress and identify challenges requiring attention.
Yusuf commended the agency’s management for the improvements recorded, particularly in the availability of essential health commodities, financial sustainability and accountability.
He stressed the importance of regular performance reviews in identifying gaps and improving the efficiency of the state’s health supply chain.
The meeting also reviewed procurement and tender activities, financial management, warehousing, distribution and the supply chain status of key health programmes.
It further sought to strengthen collaboration between the agency, implementing partners and other stakeholders to ensure the sustained availability of essential medicines and medical consumables across the state.
Sule reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to consolidating the gains recorded, ensuring prudent management of public resources and improving access to quality and affordable health commodities.
The DMCSA is responsible for supporting the availability and distribution of essential medicines and medical consumables within Kano State’s healthcare system.
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