Plateau State has taken a significant step in combating counterfeit drugs with the construction of a modern drugs and commodities warehouse, according to Commissioner for Health, Cletus Shurkuk.
During a press briefing in Jos on Monday, Shurkuk announced that the warehouse will serve as a central storage facility for genuine drugs and medical supplies, ensuring a safe and regulated supply chain for the public.
This initiative follows the establishment of the Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency and comes at a cost of N590,458,290.00.
Additionally, the ministry’s inspectorate unit has been strengthened to enhance oversight and monitoring of private health facilities, which have been registered in the ministry’s database to prevent quackery and improve healthcare service delivery to the people.
He further said the ministry’s inspection and supervision of pharmacies and patient medicine shops were carried out in conjunction with the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) to ensure ethical practices were followed.
The official also said the ministry, in collaboration with the Christian Blind Mission (CBM), had renovated, equipped and commissioned the eye unit at the General Hospital Pankshin to cater to all eye-related illnesses of people in the Central Senatorial Zone of the state.