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.
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.
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Mani Imman writes from Abuja
