Kaduna seeks partnership with pharmaceutical firms to improve health products supply

The Kaduna government says it is set to partner with pharmaceutical companies to enhance the supply of essential health commodities in the state.

Umma Ahmed, commissioner for health in Kaduna, spoke during a visit to the headquarters of Fidson Pharmaceutical Company in Lagos.

Ahmed said the partnership is to promote the availability of health commodities and also promote maternal and child care in the state.

The commissioner said the existing partnership between Kaduna and manufacturers of drugs has increased focus on and availability of essential health commodities in the state.

She said the state recorded an increase in the average fill order rate, adding that it rose from 38 percent in September 2021 to 95 percent in December 2023.

“We experienced an increase in on-shelf availability of essential medicine and life-saving commodities,” she said.

“There are affordable, accessible and qualitative essential commodities at the health facilities, and there are optimal quantities of life-saving commodities available at the warehouse.”

She assured Azuka Okeke, chief executive officer of Africa Resource Center for Excellence in Supply Chain Management (ARC_ESM), that the state will continue to deliver quality health to the people.

“We will work hard to improve on what we have on the ground, and we have always set the pace, and we will continue to do that.” the commissioner added.

On his part, Fidelis Ayebae, CEO of Fidson Pharmaceutical, said his company will continue to collaborate with the state to ensure a stable supply of drugs.

He added that the firm is committed to strengthening the collaboration with the state by equipping the pharma-grade warehouse under construction. 

He also promised to continue to provide opportunities to build the capacity of the state supply chain team through the expertise of the Fidson Healthcare Plc supply chain unit.