By Usman Usman Garba
Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, has lamented the deteriorated state of the pharmaceutical business in the state, which he said has been in a deplorable condition since the end of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso’s second tenure, eight years ago.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Information Officer, Ibrahim Abdullahi, the commissioner expressed his concerns during a courtesy visit by the executives of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Kano Chapter, to his office.
Dr. Labaran decried the state of the pharmaceutical market, particularly the Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA)—the only government-approved agency responsible for sourcing and supplying quality and affordable drugs to public health facilities. He described the agency as being in a dire state, “on its knees begging to be saved.”
He noted some progress, however, with the establishment of a wholesale drugs market at Dangwauro, which he said has started yielding positive results. He emphasized the need for full utilization of the site to sanitize the drugs market in Kano State.
The commissioner revealed that the success of pharmaceutical services in the state was largely due to the input of a technical working group that advises on drug-related matters before recommendations are made to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Dr. Labaran urged stakeholders in the pharmaceutical business to operate with caution and a sense of moral responsibility. He warned against unethical practices such as the repackaging of fake and expired drugs, noting that such actions have dire consequences for public health. He stressed that only God-fearing individuals could avoid engaging in such harmful activities.
Reflecting on his earlier tenure as commissioner between 2011 and 2015, Dr. Labaran highlighted the state government’s efforts under Governor Kwankwaso to sponsor 100 Kano indigenes to study pharmacy in India. He recalled that Kano had only 51 registered pharmacists at the time and expressed satisfaction that many of those sponsored students are now serving the state.
Earlier, the PSN Kano Chapter Chairman, Pharm. Mustafa Umar, commended the commissioner for his efforts in revitalizing the state’s health sector. He acknowledged the commissioner’s return as timely, noting that pharmacists were deeply concerned about the fate of the DMCSA but are now optimistic as drug availability in public health facilities has increased from 30% to 96%.
Pharm. Umar also praised Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for appointing Pharm. Aminu Bashir as Permanent Secretary in the state civil service. He described the appointment as historic and expressed confidence in Pharm. Bashir’s ability to deliver based on his track record.
He further informed the commissioner of the upcoming Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria conference, scheduled to take place in Kano in November, with an expected attendance of 3,000 to 5,000 pharmacists. Pharm. Umar solicited government support to ensure the success of the event.
