Circulation Of Fake Drugs In Niger State Is A Thing Of Concern—Health Commissioner
The Niger State Commissioner of Health and Health services, Dr. Mustapha Jibril has expressed deep concern regarding the circulation of fake drugs in the state. Dr. Mustapha made the statement while inaugurating the state medical commodities management committee and task force on neglected tropical diseases committee at the Ministry of Health in Minna.
The two committees which were officially inaugurated with 5 terms of reference are to be headed by the Ministry's Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Tiffin and the Director of public health, Dr. Muhammad Usman. The committees were charged with the responsibilities of desirability of transfer of items like central medical store, infusion plant, Drug revolving fund scheme at the Hospital Management Board, HMB and state-wide EDRF at the Niger State Primary Healthcare Development Agency. Other terms of reference included, to ensure that modalities of transfer of items so desirable to bridge the management gaps that may be created after every transfer and to ensure good working relationship among the affected agencies as regards to logistics and utilization of the commodities.
Dr. Mustapha advised the committee members to make use of any other useful suggestions or observations that can move the system forward as regards to any subject matter. He noted that "both the ministry and the committees inaugurated are expected to do justice to their assignments to ensure Nigerlites access quality and affordable health care services".
He also expressed his disappointment concerning how fake drugs find their ways into the general public's consumption and that he was shocked when he was informed that a drug was found in 2015 carrying a manufacturing date of 2016.
He further explained that the creation of the State Drug and Hospital Consumable Management Agency, DHCMA was based in the directives to the 36 states of the Federation by the National Council on Health as embedded in the national drug distribution guidelines. The committees had since sworn into action.