Kano DMCSA Unveils 2026 AOP to Strengthen Drug Access, Quality, and Accountability

By Farouk Isa Musa 

The Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA) has brainstormed and came up with its 2026 Annual Operational Plan (AOP), setting a bold agenda to deepen reforms in pharmaceutical governance, and improve access to quality medicines in the state.

The Director-General of the Agency, Pharm. Gali Sule made this known during the Kano State Health Sector MDAs 2026 AOP Technical Review & Harmonization Workshop, currently taking place at The Pyramid Hotel in Kaduna. This development highlighted the 2026 AOP as a continuation of the Agency’s transformative work that has seen drug availability in public health facilities rise from 30% to over 90% in just two years.

“The DMCSA 2026 Annual Operational Plan is focused on sustainability, equity, and quality. Our goal is to ensure that every health facility across the 44 Local Government Areas in Kano State has uninterrupted access to qualitative and affordable medicines,” the DG stated.

According to him, the key pillars of the 2026 AOP include sustaining drug availability across all health facilities, enhancing procurement systems and distribution logistics, expansion of drug coverage under the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF), ensuring transparency and accountability in the supply chain, and quarterly review as well as audits of drug stores and zonal warehouses

Other key pillars are strengthening the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) scheme, enforcement measures against drug diversion and mismanagement, enhancing cost recovery and fund sustainability, expanding community awareness on the activities of the Agency, and continuation of training for supply chain personnel.

On his part, the Director Drugs and Supply Pharm. Tukur Ibrahim said the DMCSA 2026 AOP was developed by the Agency in collaboration with development partners and relevant stakeholders, as in line with national health policies and the State Strategic Health Development Plan II (SSHDP-II).

Being a role model for other states across the nation, the Kano DMCSA has been widely recognized for its innovative approach to drug supply management, particularly through its revitalized Drug Revolving Fund. With the 2026 AOP, the Agency aims to further position Kano State as a model for transparent, accountable, and patient-centered pharmaceutical service delivery.

Generally, the 2026 AOP for health sector MDAs was developed in close collaboration between government officials from health, finance, planning, and budget sectors, and development partners.

The workshop was organized by the State Ministry of Health and supported by the UK Government's Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) Lafiya Programme and Sanhdef. The Commissioner for Health Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf is chairing the event, which commenced on Friday, 13th September, and to be round off on Monday, 15th September 2025.