Benue State University Teaching Hospital disposes of N200 million worth of expired medical supplies

The management of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) in Makurdi took action on Friday to discard expired drugs and medical consumables valued at N200 million. The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Stephen Hwande, revealed that these drugs had been procured by the hospital but had gone unused.

Dr. Hwande expressed concern that the hospital had left these medical supplies to expire while, paradoxically, they had privatized the pharmaceutical department within the hospital.

During his two-week tenure as Chief Medical Director, Dr. Hwande conducted a thorough inspection of the hospital’s stores, leading to the discovery of expired drugs and consumables worth close to N200 million. He questioned why these essential medical supplies, originally intended for hospital use, had been abandoned to the point of expiration, especially when there were alternatives.

Dr. Hwande proposed several options for repurposing these drugs, including distributing them to general hospitals or other medical facilities within the state, sending them to IDP camps, or organizing community medical outreach programs. He stressed that there was no justification for allowing such a substantial quantity of drugs to become obsolete.

Prior to Dr. Hwande’s appointment, patients at the BSUTH were often required to purchase even basic items like paracetamol and gloves. The appointment of the new Chief Medical Director came with the approval of the state Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, on October 17. Dr. Hwande’s proactive measures in addressing the issue of expired medical supplies signify a positive step toward enhancing the hospital’s services and ensuring that valuable resources are utilized effectively.