Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA) has announced a significant reduction in the prevalence of fake and substandard drugs in public health facilities throughout the state.
This achievement follows the implementation of the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) scheme, according to the agency’s director-general, Gali Sule.
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In an interview, Sule explained that the DRF scheme enables the agency to work directly with over 80 registered manufacturers and suppliers. These participants undergo an annual procurement process to ensure that high-quality drugs and medical consumables are consistently available in healthcare facilities.
“The state procures these drugs with a small markup for sustainability, which allows us to sell them to facilities that, in turn, provide them to patients,” Sule said.
He highlighted the previous challenges faced by the state, which had become known as a dumping ground for fake and substandard drugs, ranking second only to Anambra in this issue.
Sule noted, “Prior to the implementation of the Drug Revolving Fund Scheme, Kano State had a significant problem with fake and substandard drugs, with approximately 70% of circulated drugs being either fake or substandard. However, since the implementation of the scheme, the agency has been able to curtail this issue, ensuring that only standard drugs are available in public health facilities.”
He emphasized the legal framework supporting the scheme, stating, “No facility is allowed by law to buy drugs from anywhere apart from this agency. We deal directly with manufacturers and major importers who are registered with the relevant regulatory agencies.”
Furthermore, Sule reported a dramatic improvement in stock availability. When the current government assumed office, the stockout rate was as high as 70 percent. As of September, this rate has dropped to just 3.4 percent, with an impressive availability rate of 96.6 percent. He attributed this success to the dedication of the state’s commissioner of health and the governor’s commitment to improving the health sector.
