Advancing Data-Driven and Evidence-Based Procurement Planning in Nasarawa State

The Nasarawa State Drugs Supplies Management Agency (NASDSMA) has successfully concluded a three-day Annual Forecast Performance Review Workshop, held from 14-16 July 2026, with technical support from the Health Procurement Africa (HPA) Programme implemented by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS).

Facilitated by Pharm. Jimmy Aiden, Technical Specialist for CIPS on the HPA Programme, the workshop forms part of NASDSMA's ongoing commitment to institutionalising data-driven and evidence-based procurement planning, helping ensure that medicines and healthcare commodities are available when and where they are needed most.

Building on a Strong Foundation

In 2025, CIPS HPA supported NASDSMA in conducting a comprehensive statewide quantification exercise covering:

• Essential Medicines, including Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) products
• Medical Consumables
• Laboratory Reagents

The exercise established forecasts covering the period from June 2025 to December 2027. This year's review workshop built directly upon that work by assessing forecast performance against actual consumption data collected between June 2025 and May 2026.

By comparing projected demand with real-world usage, participants were able to identify areas of strong forecasting performance, understand variances, and generate insights to improve future planning and procurement decisions.

Key Objectives of the Workshop

The workshop focused on several important objectives:

✅Reviewing Forecast Accuracy

Participants analysed forecast performance for the period June 2025 to May 2026, benchmarking actual consumption against the projections developed during the state's 2025 quantification exercise.

✅Identifying Drivers of Variance

A detailed review was conducted to understand the factors behind any significant differences between forecasted and actual consumption patterns.

✅Strengthening Future Planning

Insights generated during the review process were used to inform revisions to forecasts covering the June 2026 to December 2027 period.

✅Supporting Evidence-Based Procurement

Updated product and funding requirements were generated using the workshop findings, providing NASDSMA with a stronger foundation for procurement planning, resource allocation and supply chain management.

Driving Better Value Through Data

During the presentation of the workshop's final outputs, Pharm. Haruna Wakil, General Manager of NASDSMA, emphasised the critical role of data-driven decision-making in healthcare procurement and supply chain management.

He highlighted how accurate forecasting and evidence-based planning support:

• Improved product availability
• Better resource optimisation
• Stronger supply chain performance
• Increased value for money in public procurement

These principles remain central to NASDSMA's efforts to strengthen healthcare commodity management across Nasarawa State.

Collaborative Leadership and Participation

The workshop brought together key leaders and technical experts from across the state's healthcare supply chain ecosystem, including representatives from procurement, warehousing, finance, diagnostics, forecasting and logistics functions.

Participants included senior managers from NASDSMA, the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NAPHDA), and the Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH), Lafia, reflecting a collaborative approach to strengthening procurement and supply chain management across the state.

Building Capacity at Facility Level

One of the practical highlights of the workshop was a hands-on training session in forecasting and supply planning delivered to pharmacy staff from the Federal University Teaching Hospital (FUTH), Lafia.

This on-the-job training extended the benefits of data-driven demand planning beyond state-level operations and into healthcare facilities, helping to build local capacity, improve demand visibility and strengthen supply planning at the point of service delivery.

Looking Ahead

The institutionalisation of annual forecast performance reviews represents an important step forward in strengthening procurement governance and supply chain resilience in Nasarawa State.

By regularly evaluating forecast accuracy, identifying opportunities for improvement and using evidence to inform procurement decisions, NASDSMA is creating a sustainable framework for ensuring the availability of essential health commodities while maximising the impact of available resources.

CIPS HPA is proud to continue supporting NASDSMA and its partners as they advance best practices in healthcare procurement, forecasting and supply chain management, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes for communities across Nasarawa State.

Acknowledgements

Special appreciation goes to Pharm. Haruna Wakil, General Manager of NASDSMA, for his leadership throughout the process, as well as Pharm. Adam Hayatudeen, Pharm. Hassana Abubakar, and the wider NASDSMA team for their commitment and support in delivering this important exercise.