• Commends National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi for siting of edifice 

 

Pharmacists under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have officially informed the Federal Government on the viability of Drug Revolving Funds (DRF) in public health institutions.

 

The pharmacists in a letter to the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute, dated June 18, 2015, and signed by the PSN President, Mr. Olumide Akintayo, concluded: “The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria feels very strongly obliged in the light of the foregoing to continue to recommend the Drug Revolving Funds to governments at all levels not only because the Drug Revolving Funds is a dictate of an act of parliament (the Essential Drug Act), but because it is simple and unambiguous as governments or health institutions can run same via zero financing.

 

“Finally, we assure the Permanent Secretary that the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria is willing to partner with you in the event that any grey area arises with regards to this information.”

 

Akintayo wrote: “The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria finds it necessary to inform the Permanent Secretary once more on the viability of well managed Drug Revolving Funds in public health institutions.

 

“Recently in December 2014 the Immediate Past Minister of Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhasan was privileged to commission the Drug Revolving Funds Pharmacy Building, a three-floor massive property worth hundreds of millions of naira at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi.

 

This property was built solely from the proceeds of a well-managed Drug Revolving Funds Scheme where the Director of Pharmacy (Project Manager) is a signatory.

 

The consequence of the pharmacist being a signatory is that it has been impossible to divert proceeds of the Drug Revolving Funds to other ventures apart from the procurement of medicines.

 

 

This has strengthened the Drug Revolving Funds at National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi with the attendant positive development of coming up with a mega structure without a disruption of equilibrium of the Drug Revolving Funds project, which continues to wax even stronger in this Health Institution.”

 

Also, the PSN has commended the Medical Director, National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos, Dr. O. O. Odunubi, for supporting the project by making provision for the siting of the project.

 

PSN in a letter, to Odunubi signed by Akintayo, wrote: “I find it extremely necessary to convey the sincere appreciation of National Executive Committee, Council and entire members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria to you for your wonderful support which facilitated the building of the Drug Revolving Funds Pharmacy House which I was privileged to visit today Thursday, June 18, 2015.

 

“This is a clear demonstration of your good quality leadership style at a time we witness pharmaceutical xenophobia from some other hospital managements.

 

“The imperative fall-out of your positive gesture remains that a well run and managed Drug Revolving Funds scheme is the panacea for affordable, efficacious and accessible medicines in public health facilities.”

 

By Chukwuma Muanya 

Guardian