Building Price Intelligence for Strategic Health Procurement in Kaduna State

September 2026 marked a significant milestone in Kaduna State's journey towards evidence-based health procurement. The Kaduna State Health Supplies Management Agency (KADHSMA), in collaboration with the Health Procurement Africa (HPA) programme, successfully transitioned its Price Benchmarking Survey for Tracer Essential Medicines from concept to implementation, laying the foundation for a sustainable price intelligence system that will strengthen procurement decision-making and improve access to affordable medicines.

Turning Data into Better Procurement Decisions

From 14 to 16 September 2026, the newly inaugurated State Price Intelligence Committee convened for a three-day programme that combined planning, capacity building, and action. Committee members participated in a planning meeting, received training on data collection methodologies, and commenced fieldwork across Kaduna State's three senatorial zones.

The exercise received technical support from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) - Health Procurement Africa (HPA) Programme, represented by Procurement Expert Dr Mirabel Okafor and HPA's Technical Specialist for Nigeria, Pharm. Jimmy Aiden.

This initiative builds on lessons learned from the successful pilot Price Benchmarking Survey conducted in October 2025 in Kano State in partnership with the Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA).

Why Price Intelligence Matters

KADHSMA serves as a key supplier of essential medicines and healthcare commodities to public health facilities across Kaduna State. However, without routinely comparing public sector prices with those in the private market, it can be difficult to determine whether procurement and distribution systems are achieving optimal value for money.

Questions such as these are critical:

• Are KADHSMA's distribution prices competitive?
• Are health facility retail prices fair and affordable for patients?
• Are there opportunities to improve procurement outcomes and reduce costs?
• How can supplier engagement and market intelligence be strengthened?

Price intelligence provides answers to these questions by generating evidence that supports strategic procurement decisions. Ultimately, prices reveal what a procurement system is actually achieving, not merely what it intends to achieve.

Objectives of the Survey

The Price Benchmarking Survey was designed to generate actionable insights that will support procurement improvement across Kaduna State. Specifically, the survey seeks to:

1. Assess Upstream Affordability

Compare KADHSMA's distribution prices for tracer essential medicines with prices offered by authorised private-sector distributors for equivalent products and brands.

2. Assess Downstream Affordability

Compare medicine retail prices at public health facilities with those available from licensed private-sector providers, including community pharmacies and proprietary patent medicine vendors.

3. Generate Evidence for Better Decision-Making

Provide data-driven insights that will strengthen supplier engagement, support informed procurement decisions, and enhance procurement systems within KADHSMA.

A Collaborative Approach

A notable feature of the exercise was the broad stakeholder participation achieved through the State Price Intelligence Committee. The survey benefited from the active involvement of committee members representing key sectors of the pharmaceutical market, including:

• Pharm. Abosede D. Garba, Chairperson of the Kaduna State Branch of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN)
• Mr Felix C. Nnaji, President of the National Association of Proprietary and Patent Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED)

Their participation highlights the importance of collaboration between public institutions, healthcare providers, community pharmacies, distributors, and professional bodies in generating reliable market intelligence and strengthening medicine affordability.

Leadership Driving Change

Special appreciation goes to Pharm. Aisha Isyaku Tukur, Executive Secretary of KADHSMA, and the entire KADHSMA management team for their leadership, commitment, and support throughout the process.

Recognition must also be given to the Chairman, Co-Chair, and members of the State Price Intelligence Committee, who have gone beyond oversight responsibilities to actively participate in collecting data across the state. Their hands-on approach demonstrates a strong commitment to evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement.

Looking Ahead

Upon completion of the survey and analysis of the findings, the results will be disseminated to relevant stakeholders across Kaduna State. The evidence generated will help inform future procurement strategies, strengthen supplier relationships, improve value for money, and support efforts to ensure that quality-assured essential medicines remain affordable and accessible to the people who need them most.

The Price Benchmarking Survey is more than a data collection exercise. It represents an important step towards institutionalising price intelligence within Kaduna State's health procurement system and embedding evidence at the centre of procurement decision-making.

As Kaduna State continues this journey, it is helping to demonstrate how strategic procurement, informed by reliable market intelligence, can improve health system performance and deliver better outcomes for citizens.

Together, we are building the price intelligence that allows Kaduna State to procure smarter, spend better, and keep essential medicines affordable for all.