Health

Sadiya Abdullahi Yusuf, Kano The Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumable Supply Agency (DMCSA) has recorded significant progress in its operations over the last three months, the agency’s Director-General, Pharmacist Gali Sule, announced. Speaking during a review of the agency’s performance from September to December 2025, Sule said almost all outstanding debts inherited from the previous administration have been settled. “Looking at our records, this is a huge advancement since we came on board. Our current capital now stands at N532 million,” he said. The DG highlighted that the supply of medicines to hospitals across the state has reached 97 percent. “Although the records fluctuate depending on capital availability, our target is to reach 99 percent supply in the near future,” Sule added, noting that the agency aims to ensure medicines remain affordable and accessible to all residents. Sule also disclosed that a state-of-the-art Pharma-Grade Warehouse will soon be commissioned following approval by the Kano State Governor. The facility is expected to boost internal medicine production, with all products fully registered with the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) and NAFDAC to guarantee safety and authenticity. Read Also: Governor Yusuf Prioritizes Kano, Dismisses 2027 Politics DMCSA Marks Governor Yusuf’s Birthday With Medical Donation to Schools Arewa Health Promotion Initiative Sensitises Kura Communities on Clean Water and Sanitation On funding, Sule expressed hope that the state government would provide additional capital to further strengthen the agency’s activities, promising repayment within a year. Currently, DMCSA supplies medicines and consumables to more than 1,200 primary healthcare centres, 46 secondary hospitals, and several tertiary hospitals at regulated and affordable prices. “Drug access has increased significantly due to the strengthened Drug Revolving Fund system,” he added. Plans are also underway to launch a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative, which will allow private investors to contribute to the agency’s operations. Sule said the PPP aligns with the Federal Government’s agenda to reduce drug imports and boost local medicine production. In addition, a Quality Control Laboratory is under construction and expected to be commissioned in 2026. The laboratory will test all medicines supplied in the state, ensuring substandard products are eliminated. “This will benefit Dangwauro Pharmaceutical Market, removing the need to send medicines to Kaduna for testing,” Sule said. The DMCSA DG concluded by reiterating his full support for His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, praising the governor for his dedication to transforming healthcare in Kano State. “I am fully in support of his vision to ensure Kano prospers,” he stated.

The Kano State Ministry of Health, through the State Sustainable Health Commodity Supply System Committee (SHCSS-C), has on Saturday commenced a three-day workshop to review Kano State Essential Medicine List (EML) Review. The event, which was organized with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Lafiya Programme, brings together key stakeholders from across the health sector, including, clinicians, pharmacists, public health experts, regulatory agencies, development partners, and civil society organizations. The objective of the meeting, which is taking place at the Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna, is to review and update the Kano State Essential Medicine List to ensure it aligns with current disease burden, treatment guidelines, and global best practices, while responding to the specific health needs of the people of the state. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Honourable Commissioner for Health Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf highlighted that access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable medicines remains a cornerstone of the state’s healthcare delivery system. He noted that the review of the Essential Medicine List is critical to strengthening rational medicine use, improving procurement efficiency, and enhancing service delivery across all levels of care. “The review process will ensure that Kano State’s Essential Medicine List remains evidence-based, cost-effective, and responsive to emerging health challenges, including non-communicable diseases and public health emergencies,” the Commissioner stated. Dr. Labaran urged the participants to carefully review the essential medicine list with a view to contribute their quota in transforming the health sector in the state. He further expressed appreciation to the FCDO Lafiya Programme and all stakeholders for their collaboration and commitment to improving healthcare outcomes for the people of Kano State. Read Also: DMCSA Reforms Deliver Strong Results as Agency Clears Debts, Boosts Operations In his submission, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry Pharm. Aminu Bashir, who spoke extensively on resilience of supply chain management in Kano State, noted the review of essential medicine list is a first step in the supply chain journey. The Permanent Secretary also spoke in details on how the Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA) was revived form an inherited moribund status and huge indebtedness, and how the leadership of the Agency, headed by the Director General Pharm. Gali Sule, recorded tremendous achievements. In his welcome address, the Director Pharmaceutical Services at the State Ministry of Health Pharm. Kamilu Mudi Salisu said the meeting is a concerted effort by the ministry to review the essential medicine list. Describing the Kano State Government, under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, as a proactive, Pharm. Salisu, who is also the Chairman of SSHCSS-C, disclosed that it is mandatory for all states of the federation to review their EML whenever the Federal Ministry of Health did so, hence the reason why the Kano State organized the meeting. He expressed optimism that the EML will be thoroughly evaluated and reviewed due to the composition and expertise of the participants. In their separate goodwill messages, the State Team Leads of UK-FCDO Lafiya Programme Abdulkadir Salisu Kabara and his counterpart of Capacity for Sustainable Development (C4SD) Pharm. Amos Gwazalyen, as well as representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Kano State in strengthening health systems, particularly in areas of governance, financing, and access to essential health commodities. They emphasized that an updated Essential Medicine List will support improved planning, budgeting, and availability of life-saving medicines in public health facilities. Over the three days, participants will review existing medicines, assess new therapeutic options, consider national and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, and agree on priority medicines for inclusion. The outcomes of the workshop are expected to guide procurement, distribution, and rational use of medicines across Kano State health facilities. Signed: Farouk Isa Musa, PRO, DMCSA

The Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA) has increased its working capital to ₦377,033,845 after clearing an inherited debt of ₦102,238,600 between 2023 and 2025. The Director-General of the agency, Pharmacist Gali Sule, disclosed this in an interview with ‘The Historica Nigeria’ as part of the agency’s end-of-year review for 2025. According to him, the debt clearance marks a major milestone, restoring the agency’s credibility and operational efficiency since December 2023. He explained that the DMCSA has almost completed the settlement of outstanding liabilities owed to pharmaceutical companies responsible for supplying essential drugs to Kano State hospitals. “This debt clearance was achieved through the monthly Drug Revolving Fund accountability sessions introduced by the current leadership. These meetings help identify challenges, review progress, and strengthen transparency,” he said. Read Also: Kano Govt Approves N233 Million for Procurement of Laboratory Equipment for DMCSA Nigerian Army Suspends Retirements Amid Nationwide Security Emergency Governor Yusuf Nominated for National Award on Visionary Leadership Pharmacist Sule noted that the strengthened reform process has improved the agency’s reputation among development partners and suppliers. “You see, the negative debt we inherited from the past administration weakened our operations. But through close supervision and collaboration among all key units — including the Drugs Management System, Procurement, and Financial Operations — we were able to recover and settle over ₦1 billion in old debts,” he added. He commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration for its tireless support, revealing that the state government now releases ₦40 million daily to support hospitals across Kano, compared to ₦10 million previously. “This increase covers the free Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) programme as well as drug supplies to correctional centres in the state,” he stated. The DG further announced that the agency has expanded its logistics capacity with new vehicles to enhance drug distribution across zonal stores and health facilities. “Before now, we relied on commercial logistics, which sometimes diverted drugs to locations outside our knowledge,” he revealed. He explained that the agency currently supplies medicines and consumables to more than 1,200 primary healthcare centres, 46 secondary hospitals, and several tertiary hospitals in Kano State — all at affordable and regulated prices. “Drug access in these facilities is now assured and has increased significantly due to the strengthened Drug Revolving Fund system,” he added. Pharmacist Sule also disclosed that the state-of-the-art Pharma Grade Warehouse will be commissioned in January 2026 as part of the agency’s achievements from 2023 to date. He confirmed that medicines produced internally by the agency are fully registered by the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) and NAFDAC, ensuring their safety and authenticity. “These products are genuine, certified, and we will soon begin supplying them to private health centres across the state,” he said. He assured agency staff that their welfare remains a top priority, describing them as the backbone of DMCSA’s operations. “We will continue ensuring that affordable, genuine medicines remain available in all public health centres without interruption,” he affirmed. Established in 2009 through an act of the Kano State House of Assembly, the DMCSA supervises the procurement and distribution of drugs and medical consumables to government-owned health facilities across the state. Pharmacist Gali Sule, who has led the agency since 2023, attributed the agency’s successes to the consistent support of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration.