Kogi health agency moves to end drug shortages in hospitals

The Executive Secretary of Kogi State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Adekunle Aledare, has taken a bold step to end the out-of-stock syndrome in hospitals across the state, especially at the enrolee hospitals.

According to Dr. Aledare, the move is a proactive measure to collaborate with pharmaceutical outlets across Kogi State with the aim of flooding hospitals with necessary drugs.

Dr. Aledare made this known yesterday in a strategic meeting with pharmaceutical outlets in the state.

He said, “In a bid to address the persistent shortage of drugs for Kogi State Health Insurance Agency enrollees across the health facilities in the state, the Agency has taken a proactive step in partnering with pharmaceutical outlets across the three senatorial districts of the state to forestall its persistent occurrence.

“To achieve meaningful results, the management of the Agency held a meeting with the representatives of some of the pharmaceutical outlets at the Agency’s Conference Hall in Lokoja.”

Dr. Aledare noted that drugs are the core elements of health insurance globally. He declared that the partnership with community pharmacists would provide an alternative supply chain for the needed essential drugs, enabling the enrollees of the Agency to access prescribed medications at all times.

He assured the pharmaceutical outlet representatives of the Agency’s integrity and dedication to its enrollees and accredited healthcare providers.

Also speaking, the board chairman of the Agency, Suberu Arikochonu, said the meeting aimed at establishing a strong and result-oriented partnership with the pharmaceutical outlets to ensure the availability of drugs to all the enrollees of the Agency across the state for better service delivery.

Arikochonu emphasised the need for cooperation between the Agency and the pharmaceutical outlets to achieve tangible results. He reiterated the Agency’s unwavering commitment to ensuring enrollees receive optimal healthcare services.

Speaking on behalf of the pharmacists, the Managing Director of Farida Pharmacy Nig Ltd, Okene, Ovurevu Muhammed, thanked the Agency for partnering with some of the pharmaceutical companies in the state. He stated that the pharmaceutical companies would do their best to partner with the Agency based on the agreement reached on the supply of drugs to the enrollees of the Agency.

On his part, the Permanent Board Member of the Agency, Jacob Abrahams, thanked all the representatives of the pharmaceutical companies at the meeting for agreeing to partner with the Agency on the supply of drugs to the health facilities accredited by the Agency across the state.

He added that the partnership would go a long way in improving the services of the Agency to Kogi State residents.