The Plateau State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency (PS-DMCMA) has established a Drug Information Centre (DIC) to monitor adverse drug reactions reported by hospitals and individuals.
PS-DMCMA is a Nigerian government agency responsible for managing and distributing essential drugs and medical supplies across the state’s public health facilities.
Executive Secretary of the agency, Mr Kim Bot, made this known during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Jos.
Mr Bot, a pharmacist, said the centre was part of efforts to improve healthcare outcomes and ensure the safe use of medicines across the state.
He added that a toll-free line — 081299924 — has been provided for the public to report any drug reactions.
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According to him, the agency uses these reports to determine whether a reaction is caused by a drug’s chemical composition or by the individual’s genetic makeup.
Plateau agency develops PLASUPPLY
In addition to the centre, the agency has developed a new inventory system called PLASUPPLY to enhance drug and medical supply management. The system, built locally, helps track stock, manage orders, and notify staff when drugs are nearing expiry.
“The PLASUPPLY tool informs us of drugs in the warehouse that will be expiring in the next six months and where such drugs are needed in our healthcare facilities.”
“This system, aside from boosting efficiency, also helps in saving costs, as we do not have cases of expired drugs in the warehouse,“ Mr Bot said.
He further stated that the agency had signed several agreements with both local and international pharmaceutical firms to ensure a steady supply of essential medicines in the state.
