By Khadija Aliyu
The Kano State Government has acknowledged the deplorable state of the pharmaceutical industry in the state.
Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, the state Commissioner for Health, made this revelation while receiving executives from the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Kano Chapter.
Dr. Labaran expressed his disappointment with the condition of the Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA), the government-approved agency responsible for sourcing and supplying quality and affordable drugs to public health facilities.
However, he noted that the establishment of a drugs wholesale market at Dangwauro has brought some improvement.
The commissioner emphasized the need for caution and integrity in the pharmaceutical business, warning that fake and expired drugs can be reshaped and repackaged.
He urged handlers of pharmaceutical business to conduct their activities with God-fearing attitude.
Dr. Labaran also commended the past administration’s initiative to sponsor pharmacists to study in India, which increased the number of registered pharmacists in Kano state from 51 to over 100.
Pharm. Mustafa Umar, Council Chairman of the PSN, praised Dr. Labaran’s efforts in transforming the state’s health sector.
He noted that the commissioner’s return was timely, as pharmacists were concerned about the fate of the DMCSA. However, with Dr. Labaran’s leadership, things are returning to normal, and drug availability in public health facilities has increased to 96%.
The state government has also appointed Pharm. Aminu Bashir as the Permanent Secretary in the state civil service, a move commended by Pharm.
Mustafa Umar noted that Kano state is set to host the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria’s conference in November, expecting 3,000 to 5,000 pharmacists to attend.
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