The Kogi State Drugs and Medical Supply Management agency (KSDMSMA) said its making frantic efforts towards the establishment of a pharmaceutical outfit in the state to cater for the health and medical needs of people in the state.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Pharm Mahmoud Ozigi made this known on Wednesday in Lokoja during the agency’s 2023 Last Quarter Drugs and Medical Consumables distribution exercise.

Ozigi said, “Our main objective as an agency is to make drugs and consumables available, accessible, and affordable to all health facilities in the state.

“Towards this end, we shall established a state own pharmaceutical outfit that can atleast produce paracetamol and other essential drugs and consumables needed in the state. This will provide job opportunities and generate internal revenue for government while enhancing drugs supply in the state.”

The agency also said it has reached the final stage of signing Memorandum of Understanding with medical companies in its pursue of making drugs available and affordable to residents of the state, “We plan to have over 60 companies duly registered with Bureau of Public Procurement doing business with us on the long run.

“In order to decentralize drugs and medical supply in the state. We also have a plan to establish three zonal medical stores across the three senatorial districts so that drug distribution can be closed to the grassroot.”

The agency established two years ago appealed to the state government to ensure proper funding so that they can carry out their mandates and intention appropriately, “As a new agency we need funds to survive and grow into a strong pharmaceutical agency. We therefore appeal to state government to inject more funds to the agency for optimum productivity.”
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