By Chioma Obinna

With Governor Hyacinth Alia’s approval for the construction of an ultra-modern and digitised medical store, the Chief Medical Director of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Dr Stephen Hwande, said in no time the institution is set to become a centre of medical excellence and drug distribution hub in Nigeria.

Already, the construction of ultra-modern and digitised medical store approved by the executive governor is almost completed in readiness for the institutionalisation of an efficient supply chain management for medicines, reagents, consumables, and hospital equipment in the state.

Hwande, who dropped the hint at a Stakeholders Consultative Meeting and Sensitisation Seminar in Makurdi, said BSUTH, under his leadership was determined to change the negative narrative of out-of-stock syndrome and ensure the complete revamping of the supply chain for drugs, consumables, and hospital equipment.

He expressed his commitment towards reversing the unwholesome tradition of BSUTH waiting endlessly for supplies of essential and life-saving medicines and consumables from Lagos, Abuja, and Onitsha at the detriment of patients in critical conditions.

According to him, the current efforts of BSUTH Management to revitalise the inefficient drug and consumable supplies are in tandem with the Transformation Agenda of Governor Alia in the Health Science. He said, “Governor Alia has made investments in qualitative health care delivery systems by committing 15 percent of Benue State’s annual budget to the health sector. He must be commended for complying with the World Health Organisations (WHO) requirement. We want to replicate the efficient HOSPITAL drug supply system in Lagos and Abuja in Makurdi. We are not talking about drug retailing, but our focus is making BSUTH the centre of excellence in medical diagnosis and treatment as well as supply of lifesaving medicines.”

The CMD called on all the regulatory agencies, drug manufacturers, and importers present at the seminar to support BSUTH in the attainment of this laudable initiative.

In a keynote address delivered by the Retired Director of Public Affairs (NAFDAC), Dr Abubakar Jimoh identified inefficient supply chain infrastructure, limited access to essential medicines, falsified and substandard medicines, and inadequate supply chain visibility as some of the challenges faced by health institutions in ensuring effective and sustainable supply and distribution of medicines and hospital consumables.

Jimoh, an adjunct senior research fellow at the University of Abuja, listed the adoption of digital technologies, stakeholder collaboration, an efficient procurement system, and capacity building of Staff as some of the strategies BSUTH must embrace to achieve its objective of putting in place effective and sustainable supply chain management.

The retired NAFDAC Director praised the efforts and vision of the BSUTH CMD, saying his new initiative will prevent patronage of open drug markets and enhance access of Benue State people to safe, good-quality, affordable, and efficacious medicines and hospital consumables.

 Earlier, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council of BSUTH, Prof. Michael Agbir, presented an inventory of the drugs and consumables needed by the hospital to tackle the perennial out-of-stock syndrome in the hospital.

Agbir reiterated the determination of BSUTH Management to work closely with all stakeholders in the pharmaceutical out-of-stock industry to realise its objectives and ensure Benue State was not left behind in the scheme of things.