The Katsina State government said it spent N3.3 billion on purchasing drugs from reputable pharmaceutical companies and distributed the same to health facilities under its drugs revolving scheme.

The state deputy governor, Faruk Lawal-Jobe, disclosed this on Tuesday in Katsina at a monthly press briefing on the administration’s achievements in the health sector from inception to date.

He said that was in line with the administration’s commitment to addressing the issue of sales and consumption of sub-standard drugs.

“The Drugs and Medical Supply Agency had been strengthened to ensure the purchase and supply of quality drugs through a revolving scheme.

“So far, drugs worth N3,331,031,121.00 were purchased from reputable pharmaceutical companies and distributed across health facilities in the state,” he said.

In addition, the deputy governor said the government, in collaboration with Global Fund, had renovated and converted a warehouse to a pharma grade at N766,815,832.00.

Mr Lawal-Jobe said the government had awarded a contract for constructing and equipping a modern Pharmaceutical Production Unit at N1.6 billion.

The deputy governor also revealed that an E-health solution was deployed to seven health facilities across the state for enhanced efficiency in healthcare delivery service at a total cost of N244.4 million.

He also revealed that the government had recruited an additional 253 health personnel for secondary health facilities in the state.

“These include medical doctors, nurses/midwives, medical lab scientists and pharmacists; arrangements are ongoing for the third batch of the recruitment exercise,” he said.

Mr Lawal-Jobe said the government commenced residency training on obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and family medicine at the Turai Umaru Musa Yar’adua Hospital and General Hospital, Katsina, respectively.

He said that was to improve the capacity of indigenous medical doctors and others to become specialists.

The deputy governor added that the government was also making frantic efforts to curtail medical tourism, hence the commitments to establishing state-of-the-art facilities at the Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital.

“This administration had completed the construction and equipping of the Dialysis centre at General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital Katsina, which is adjudged to be one of the best in the country at the total cost of N681,104,727.92.

“Additionally, a contract for the construction and equipping of a modern imaging and diagnostic centre was awarded at the total cost of N13,137,170,677.93, and work is currently ongoing at the site located at General Amadi Rimi Hospital,” he said.

He said the government would continue implementing programmes, policies, and projects that would positively impact the citizenry.

(NAN)