A retired Director of Public Affairs at the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Abubakar Jimoh and other medical experts have stressed that access to safe, effective, and high-quality drugs remains foundational to a robust healthcare delivery system in Benue State.

Jimoh made the assertion during a one-day seminar on “Networking Effective Supply of Drugs and Hospital Consumables,” organised by the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi.

He described drugs as the lifeline of the national healthcare system, saying, “Any hospital that lacks essential drugs, consumables, and medical equipment can be described as a mere consulting clinic.”

The ex-NAFDAC director now a lecturer at the University of Abuja lauded BSUTH’s management for its dedication to ensuring access to quality drugs for the people of Benue through strategic initiatives aimed at eradicating counterfeit medications.

He further noted the importance of networking and collaboration between BSUTH and key stakeholders, emphasising that such efforts would yield positive outcomes under the visionary leadership of the Chief Medical Director (CMD) and with inspiration from the transformative agenda of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia.

Jimoh called for a revolution in healthcare supply chain management through the adoption of digital technologies, integrated systems, and strong partnerships as he urged BSUTH to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of hospitals in Benue and neighbouring  states to build a database for essential medicines and equipment.

Earlier, BSUTH CMD, Dr. Stephen Hwande, said that there were many challenges facing healthcare delivery in the state noting that surgeries have been postponed and patients lost due to the unavailability of drugs and consumables.

“Life expectancy in countries like Japan and Italy is over 80 years, while in Nigeria, it is only 55. Our healthcare system must be upgraded to ensure healthy living and prolonged life,” Hwande said.

Also, the representatives of pharmaceutical companies, including May & Baker, Vincal, and Niemel, pledged their commitment to ensuring the availability of quality drugs as they called on BSUTH to honour payment agreements in order to ensure seamless collaboration.