Kano Pharmaceutical Market in Crisis, Says Health Commissioner
The Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, has raised serious concerns about the state of the pharmaceutical business in Kano, describing it as “on its knees begging to be saved.”
This was disclosed in a statement released by Ibrahim Abdullahi, Information Officer at the Ministry of Health, on Thursday.
Dr. Labaran made the remarks during a meeting with executives of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Kano Chapter, at his office.
“We found the pharmaceutical market, especially the Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA), in a shameful situation eight years after the second tenure of Sen. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso,” Dr. Labaran stated.
He explained that the DMCSA is the sole government-approved agency responsible for sourcing and supplying quality, affordable drugs to public health facilities.
The commissioner highlighted the administration’s efforts to improve the situation, citing the establishment of a wholesale drug market at Dangwauro.
“The only thing remaining is to enforce the full utilization of the site to sanitize the drug market in Kano State,” he added.
Dr. Labaran also emphasized the administration’s commitment to prioritizing humanity, urging stakeholders in the pharmaceutical business to operate with integrity and caution.
“Fake and expired drugs could be reshaped, repackaged, and sent back to the market, but a God-fearing person would not engage in such unholy business,” he warned.
Earlier, PSN Council Chairman Pharm. Mustafa Umar expressed his satisfaction with Dr. Labaran’s return to office, describing it as timely.
“We were seriously concerned about the fate of the DMCSA, but now we feel relaxed as things are coming back to normal, with the availability of drugs in public health facilities improving to 96% from the previous 30%,” Pharm. Umar said.
He also commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for appointing Pharm. Aminu Bashir as Permanent Secretary, marking a historic first in Kano State. Pharm. Umar assured the commissioner of the PSN’s commitment to collaboration and informed him about the upcoming PSN conference in November 2025, which is expected to attract thousands of pharmacists to Kano.
The commissioner pledged government support for the conference and expressed optimism about the ongoing transformation of the state’s health sector.
