Kano DMCSA Payoff ₦800m out of ₦1.17b Inherited Debt

In ess than two years, the Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA) has successfully paid the sum of ₦800 million (or 70 percent of the) debt it owed pharmaceutical companies and other drug suppliers from 2019 to early 2023.

The funds paid were part of ₦1.17 billion debt, which the DMCSA inherited from the former administration.

Pharm. Gali Sule, the Director-General of the Agency, disclosed this when he received the executive members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) from Dakata Ward in Nassarawa Local Government Area.

Shading more light, the Director-General said when he assumed office in July 2023, he found  the Agency heavily indebted to the tune of over ₦1.1 billion, adding that if all the stocks at stores were sold off and combine with the funds at the Agency’s bank accounts, the DMCSA would still be owing suppliers some ₦102 million (as negative balance).

After 17 months, the organization now has a fund value (or capital) of ₦231 million as of December 2024, Pharm. Sule revealed.

On the availability and accessibility of commodities, he pointed out that the availability of drugs and other medical consumables  at government facilities has risen to 96 percent from the initial 30 percent.

"Before the Inception of this administration of His Excellency Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, when 10 drugs were prescribed to a patient, they may be able to get only three items out of the 10. But now the patient would get at least nine out of 10 prescribed drugs."

On the issue of affordability, the Director-General said the drugs at government-owned facilities are 40 percent cheaper than at the open market.

He attributed the success recorded at his Agency to the examplary leadership of Governor Yusuf, where serving humanity and upliftment of the state are the cardinal principles of government.

"This development has clearly demonstrated the high level of transparency and accountability of the management of the organization, and by extension, the dedication and commitment of Kano State government, headed by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to revitalize the health sector, in particular, and the state in general

Speaking earlier, Malam Muhammad Ya'u, the Organising Secretary of NNPP of Nassarawa Local Government who led the excos said they were at the office of the Director-General to discuss issues of mutual interest and reaffirm their support to him, being a political leader from their Local Government Area.