The Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Drugs and Medical Supplies Management Agency (KSDMSMA), Pharm. Ibrahim Onize Salamat, has disclosed that the agency is implementing strategic reforms to ensure the availability of quality, affordable and accessible medicines across the state.
Pharm. Salamat stated this while briefing journalists in her office in Lokoja on the activities, achievements and ongoing initiatives of the agency aimed at strengthening the state’s pharmaceutical supply chain and improving access to essential medicines.
She explained that under the leadership of the health-friendly Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the agency had moved away from fragmented purchasing towards a smarter and more unified procurement approach designed to ensure that hospitals receive quality medicines at the right price and at the right time.
According to her, the progress was achieved through collaboration with 19 member Drugs Management Organizations across Nigeria and 30 pre-qualified suppliers, supporting procurement across 81 essential healthcare commodity categories under the new Group Purchasing Framework (GPF).
She said the framework was organised through the joint efforts of the Nigeria Health Commissioners’ Forum (NHCF), the Forum of Drugs Management Agencies (DMAs), and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN), with facilitation by the African Resource Centre for Excellence in Supply Chain Management (ARC-ESM).
The Executive Secretary noted that the GPF Mid-Year Implementation Report by ARC-ESM indicated that ₦132.3 billion was deployed under the first coordinated annual pooled procurement, adding that the joint quantity projection provided a reliable volume for better price negotiations with PMG-MAN.
She said the initiative had resulted in better prices, improved quality, more reliable delivery arrangements, agreed payment terms, faster delivery times and significant relief from medicine stock-outs.
Pharm. Salamat further explained that, with the support of the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, KSDMSMA took the bold step of joining the GPF to strengthen access to quality and affordable essential medicines, guarantee medicine security and build a stronger and more resilient health supply chain in Kogi State.
She said the initiative had contributed to reducing drug prices for Kogi residents and shortening delivery times through bulk purchasing, improved price negotiations and direct engagements with manufacturers.
The Executive Secretary disclosed that hospitals across Kogi Central, Kogi East and Kogi West had already received their third-quarter supplies directly at their doorsteps through the Last Mile Delivery (LMD) approach, which she said was designed to ensure that medicines reach healthcare facilities and patients faster.
She added that supply mop-up was still ongoing to ensure adequate stock and meet the needs of patients across the state.
Pharm. Salamat also highlighted the agency’s commitment to promoting Made-in-Nigeria medicines, noting that Kogi State was prioritising local pharmaceutical companies in line with the agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen local production.
She disclosed that, as of August 26, 2026, an additional 10 Nigerian pharmaceutical companies had been registered by the Bureau of Public Procurement in the state and pre-qualified by the agency to supply quality-assured medicines to public health facilities.
According to her, more pharmaceutical manufacturing companies were currently processing their membership to further boost local production and strengthen the pharmaceutical industry and supply chain in Kogi State.
She also disclosed that KSDMSMA was strengthening partnerships and enhancing its capacity through participation in major national engagements, including the 6th Annual Leadership Breakfast Meeting in Abuja on Universal Medicine Security and the Nigeria Supply Chain Summit in Lagos, which focused on shaping the future of medicine access and supply chain management.
She explained that such engagements were enabling the agency to learn, lead and adopt best practices that could be applied to improve medicine availability and accessibility in Kogi State.
The Executive Secretary said that over the past several months, KSDMSMA, working with the Drugs Management Agencies, NHCF, PMG-MAN, ARC-ESM and other strategic partners, had continued to record significant progress in strengthening access to quality and affordable essential medicines through the GPF.
She identified some of the gains to include faster delivery of medicines to hospitals through the Last Mile Delivery system, more uniform drug prices across the state, improved quality control, increased participation of local pharmaceutical companies and better access to treatment for patients.
Pharm. Salamat further disclosed that the agency was intensifying advocacy to ensure 100 per cent compliance among all Heads of Health Institutions in the state towards achieving a single, centralised supply chain system as required by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
She explained that the objective was to ensure that every citizen of Kogi State benefits equally from a uniform price regime for the same pharmaceutical products across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities, thereby eliminating unnecessary price disparities.
The Executive Secretary expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his commitment to strengthening the medicine supply chain system in the state, as well as the Coordinating Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, for his support and guidance.
She also commended all Heads of Health Institutions, the staff of KSDMSMA and other critical stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the agency’s programmes.
Her appreciation also extended to PMG-MAN, ARC-ESM, NHCF, other Drugs Management Agencies and pharmaceutical distributors for their continued partnership and support towards strengthening medicine security in Kogi State.
Pharm. Salamat reaffirmed that KSDMSMA remained committed to making quality medicines available, affordable and accessible to every person in Kogi State.
She said the implementation of the Group Purchasing Framework, coupled with increased support for local pharmaceutical manufacturers, was laying a strong foundation in 2026 for a more resilient medicine supply chain and a healthier Kogi State.
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