By Ibrahim Muhammad
Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA), has been supplying drugs and surgical equipment to Abubakar Imam Urology Centre under the Drug Revolving Fund scheme.
Under the arrangement, drugs are sold to patients at subsidized rates and once the money is recovered it is used to procure more drugs to ensure there is no shortage in the hospital.
The Chief Medical Director of Abubakar Imam Urology Centre, Dr. Balarabe Umar Muhammad, disclosed this while speaking with journalists.
He said the hospital has recorded significant progress because all the drugs they require are now being sourced from DMCSA at more affordable prices and the same system was being practiced in all government hospitals across the state.
Dr. Muhammad commended DMCSA for providing quality drugs and medical equipment that had been approved by NAFDAC.
He described the development as a major achievement recorded by the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, and the Director General of DMCSA, Pharm. Ghali Sule, for their efforts in ensuring that government hospitals in the state have access to standard and affordable medicines.
According to him, the Director General of DMCSA is a qualified pharmacist who is working diligently and transparently and there has been no complaint against him.
The CMD also noted that Kano was witnessing remarkable progress in the health sector with many young doctors and pharmacists graduating from universities within and outside the state and joining the workforce.
Speaking further, Dr. Muhammad said there has been tremendous progress at the Abubakar Imam Urology Centre since he assumed office.
Before his appointment the hospital faced many challenges, but with the support of the state government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, the hospital has received major equipment.
“These include a Digital X-ray Machine purchased at the cost of N74 million, batteries and inverter system worth millions of Naira to ensure uninterrupted power supply and an Ultrasound Machine for abdominal and internal scans purchased at N40 million.
“The government also installed a solar power system in the patient wards, dialysis unit, emergency unit and outpatient department at a cost of N57 million,” he said.
He added that the state government has also promised to install additional solar power systems in other departments of the hospital including the pharmacy, laboratory, X-ray department and the administration building within the year 2026.
Dr. Muhammad explained that all the projects were facilitated through the state Healthcare Equipment and Facilities Trust Fund (KHETFUND), which collects requests from hospitals on their needs and, once approved by the governor, executes the projects.
He said all the interventions at the Urology Centre were requested through KHETFUND.
He commended the Executive Secretary of KHETFUND, Dr. Fatima Usman Zaharaddeen, describing her as a committed and hardworking woman and expressed appreciation for her support to the centre and other government hospitals across state.