By Maryam Abubakar Tukur
As part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) operations in Kano State, the Medipool team has, on Thursday, paid a strategic visit to Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA).
Speaking during the meeting, Kafayat Babalola, the Medipool Project Lead, said the visit is aimed to gain first-hand insight into DMCSA’s DRF management processes, including procurement, warehousing, distribution, inventory control, and financial sustainability mechanisms, adding that the engagement forms part of Medipool’s broader mandate to support efficient, transparent, and sustainable supply chain systems for essential medicines and medical consumables.
Babalola also emphasized the importance of strong DRF systems in ensuring uninterrupted availability of qualitative medicines at public health facilities. She further noted that lessons learned from Kano State would inform future technical support, collaboration, and system optimization initiatives.
Welcoming the Medipool team, the Director General of DMCSA Pharm. Gali Sule reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to continuous improvement, accountability, and adherence to best practices in pharmaceutical supply chain management, stressing that the ongoing reforms at DMCSA, as approved by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, are aimed at enhancing efficiency, reducing stock-outs, and improving access to essential medicines for residents of Kano State.
Pharm. Sule said the visit underscores the shared commitment of Medipool and Kano State DMCSA to strengthen public health systems through effective drug financing and supply chain management, ultimately contributing to improved healthcare delivery and health outcomes.
During the visit, the Medipool delegation held technical discussions with DMCSA management and key operational staff, reviewing existing workflows and identifying areas of strength as well as opportunities for improvement. The team also toured DMCSA facilities to better understand storage practices, logistics systems, and data management approaches supporting DRF operations.
The Medipool Nigeria is a government-backed initiative established to centralize procurement and improve access to affordable, qualitative drugs and medical consumables across Nigeria through efficient supply chain and financing mechanisms.
Developed as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to aggregate demand across public/private sectors, stimulate local manufacturing, and strengthen supply chain transparency, the Medipool is Nigeria's first national Group Purchasing Organization (GPO), approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in May 2025 to lower healthcare costs and improve access to essential medicines.
The Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA), on the other hand, is responsible for the procurement, storage, and distribution of drugs and medical consumables for public health facilities across the state through the administration of the Drug Revolving Fund.
