By Asma’u Ahmad
The Kogi State Government has introduced a Sustainable Drug Supply System (SDSS) to replace the old Essential Drug Revolving System (EDRF) in the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Saka Audu, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Lokoja, the state capital on Sunday.
Governor Yahaya Bello
According to him, the SDSS is the systemic provision of genuine and affordable drugs to the health facilities in a sustainable manner by strengthening the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF).
“The SDSS is the most effective way of solving the problem of acute shortage of drugs and medical supplies as it is a tested and trusted methodology. It uses some concept which includes: systemic and effective strengthening and capitalisation of the state medical store.
“It creates an attractive internal market such that individual pharmacy departments across the state within the health facility and outside will prefer to buy from the State Medical Store. This will in turn help to reduce and get rid of counterfeit and unwholesome drugs from circulation across the state,” Dr. Audu said.
He added that the implementation of SDSS in the state health facilities would create employment opportunities and facilitate research and development.
Other benefits include accessibility of foreign aid, mega drug distribution system, accountability and transparency, free drug management and source of revenue generation for the government, among others, the commissioner said.
He said: “The hallmark is the creation of a modern electronic drug tracking system such that movement of drugs from state medical store to zonal stores and then to the health facilities.
“This will enhance proper monitoring in real time, and eliminating the out of stock syndrome and diversion. SDSS also entails establishing an Independent Kogi State Drug Management Agency.”
