By Doris Obinna
The Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi, is set to become a centre of medical excellence and drug distribution hub in the country.
Governor Hyacinth Alia recently approved the construction of ultra modern and digitized medical store, which is almost completed in readiness for the institutionalisation of an efficient supply chain management for medicines, reagents, consumables and hospital equipment.
Chief Medical Director (CMD), BSUTH, Dr Stephen Hwande, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ consultative meeting and sensitisation seminar held on Thursday in Makurdi.
Hwande said BSUTH under his leadership is determined to change the negative narrative of out of stock syndrome and ensure the complete revamping of supply chain for drugs, consumables and hospital equipment.
He further stated 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.
“The current efforts of BSUTH management to revitalise the inefficient drugs and consumables supplies is in tandem with the transformation agenda of the governor in the health sector.
“Alia has made investment in qualitative health care delivery system by committing 15 per cent of Benue State annual budget to 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 life saving 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 retired Director, Public Affairs, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), he 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.
Dr Jimoh who is an adjunct Senior Research Fellow, University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), listed adoption of digital technologies, stakeholders collaboration, 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.
He praised the efforts and vision of the CMD, saying his new initiative will prevent patronage of open drug markets and enhance access to the people of the state to safe, good quality, affordable and efficacious medicines and hospital consumables.
Chairman, Medical Advisory Council, 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.
Prof Agbir reiterated the determination of BSUTH management to work closely with all stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry to realise its objectives and ensure the state was not left behind in the scheme of things.