The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has signed the Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency bill into law. According to Sun News Online, he also announced the approval of N80m as seed funding for the establishment of the agency, which he said would address the menace of low-quality drugs in circulation in the state and ensure that high-quality drugs are constantly available in the state at very affordable prices.
The governor mentioned that there would be a solid legal background for the manufacturing, procurement, distribution, sales and management of drugs and medical commodities in Ekiti State by the law. This was stated in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, while signing the bill into law as part of activities that would mark his third year in office.
In his statement, he also said that “Drugs and medical supplies are an essential part of our health system. Ensuring that health facilities in the state have essential drugs and medical supplies that can be readily available when needed is key to delivering Universal Health Coverage for the people of Ekiti State. This Act is also critical to our goal of becoming a regional hub for quality healthcare delivery because, with it, we now have the legitimacy to engage big pharmaceuticals on contract to ensure that we get the best quality of drugs at the best prices.”
Fayemi also pointed out the critical nature of the Act in making Ekiti State a regional hub for quality healthcare delivery as it would grant the legitimacy to engage big pharmaceuticals on contracts to get the best quality of drugs at the best prices.
He went on to say that, “This Act will also strengthen our public-private partnerships by allowing us to attract a diverse set of private sector partners who can catalyse the consumer market in our state, further improving the health-seeking behaviour of our people. Drug and health commodities revolving fund while facilitating our manufacturing capacity for local production of drugs and other health commodities. As I assent to this Bill, it is expected that all relevant stakeholders will move swiftly to action to ensure that the Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency is established in the closest possible time and operations begin in earnest.”
Dr Oyebanji Filani, the Commissioner for Health, said, “The Agency, when established, will be the primary source of high quality, affordable and accessible drugs and health commodity for all state-owned primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities.”
