Kano State Government has raised concern over the poor supply of medication and other related consumables at state-owned hospitals due to huge outstanding debt inherited from the Abdullahi Ganduje-led administration.
According to the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Yusuf, the immediate past government left behind a sum of N1.2 billion in debt owing various pharmaceutical suppliers through the state Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency, (DMCSA).
At a meeting with the medical suppliers, Dr. Abubakar Labaran lamented that he took over the DMCSA in a situation of bankruptcy, besides the deplorable state of the healthcare system left behind by the previous government.
“In order to address some of the challenges bedeviling the Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA), the Kano State Government through the State Ministry of Health has convened a meeting with the representatives of the (drugs) suppliers,” Yusuf said.
“The objectives of this meeting is to map-out modalities to address the challenge of huge outstanding payments due to suppliers, and to also chart way forward to ensure sustainable commodities supply to the Agency for the benefit of the teeming populace of Kano state. Notably among the challenges is the huge outstanding which stood at about N1.2 billion.”
Yusuf explained the steps taken to mitigate the challenges which include the establishment of baseline for the DMCSA operations, prompt payments of all procurements carried out after establishing the actual fund value of the Agency, among others.
The Commissioner solicited support and cooperation of the suppliers with outstanding payments to accept the time frame to offset the outstanding on instalment. He directed the drug agency to reconcile and ascertain the actual supplies as well as monthly payment.
The new head of DMCSA Pharm. Gali Sule lamented poor state of pharmaceutical services across the state owned facilities, because of lack of quality drugs and consumable supply. Pharm. Gali further assured the medical suppliers the willingness of the state government for abide by the modalities of payment of outstanding ,
Speaking on behalf of the (drugs) suppliers, Ben Ochigbo of Trusted Pharmacy Ltd, appreciated the kind gesture of the State Government and the Ministry of Health under the able leadership of the Honourable Commissioner for their support in moving the DMCSA forward.
He reaffirmed the readiness of the suppliers to sustain cordial business relationship with the DMCSA to ensure steady supply of adequate and quality products at affordable prices.
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