Katsina State Government said it has spent N3.3 billion on the purchase of drugs from reputable pharmaceutical companies and distributed the same to health facilities in the state under its drugs revolving scheme.
The State Deputy Governor, Faruk Lawal-Jobe, made the disclosure at a monthly press briefing on the achievements of the administration in the health sector from inception to date, on Tuesday in Katsina.
He said that was in line with the administration’s commitment to addressing the issue of sales and consumption of sub-standard drugs.
“The Drugs and Medical Supply Agency had been strengthened to ensure purchase and supply of quality drugs through a revolving scheme.
“So far, drugs worth N3,331,031,121.00 were purchased from reputable pharmaceutical companies and distributed across health facilities in the state,” he said.
In addition, the deputy governor said that the government, in collaboration with Global Fund, had renovated and converted a warehouse to a pharma grade at the cost of N766,815,832.00.
Lawal-Jobe said, “This facility is strategically placed to play a vital role in ensuring efficient storage and distribution of essential medicines.”
He further said that the government has awarded a contract for the construction and equipping of a modern Pharmaceutical Production Unit at the total cost of N1.6 billion.
Lawal-Jobe also revealed that E-health solution was deployed to seven health facilities across the state for enhanced efficiency in healthcare delivery service at the total cost of N244.4 million.
He also revealed that the government had recruited additional 253 health personnel for secondary health facilities in the state.
“These include Medical Doctors, Nurses/Midwives, Medical Lab Scientists and Pharmacists, arrangement are ongoing for the third batch of the recruitment exercise,” he said.
Lawal-Jobe said that the government commenced residency training on Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics and Family Medicine at the Turai Umaru Musa Yar’adua Hospital and General Hospital, Katsina, respectively.
He said that was in order to improve the capacity of indigenous medical doctors and others to become specialists.
He added that the government was also making frantic efforts to curtail medical tourism, hence the commitments to establishing state- of-the-art facilities at the Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital.
“This administration had completed the construction and equipping of the Dialysis centre at General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital Katsina, which is adjudged to be one of the best in the country at the total cost of N681,104,727.92.
“Additionally, a contract for the construction and equipping of a modern imaging and diagnostic centre was awarded at the total cost of N13,137,170,677.93 and work is currently ongoing at the site located at General Amadi Rimi Hospital,” he said.
He said that the government would continue to implement programmes, policies and projects that would impact positively on the citizenry.
NAN
