Access to affordable, quality-assured medicines is a cornerstone of a resilient health system. However, ensuring that public sector medicine prices remain competitive, fair, and evidence-based requires more than routine procurement practices. It requires robust price intelligence.
In October 2026, the Nasarawa State Drugs and Supplies Management Agency (NASDSMA), in collaboration with the Health Procurement Africa (HPA) Programme implemented by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), took a significant step towards strengthening data-driven health procurement by commencing a statewide Price Benchmarking Survey covering 50 tracer essential medicines, medical consumables, and laboratory products.
From 5th to 7th October 2026, members of the State Pricing Subcommittee convened for a planning meeting, participated in intensive training, and commenced data collection activities across the three senatorial zones of Nasarawa State.
The exercise received technical support from the CIPS-HPA Programme through Pharm. Jimmy Aiden, Technical Specialist, and Pharm. Pamela Muonemeh, Procurement Expert, who worked closely with state stakeholders to strengthen the survey design and implementation process.
As the agency responsible for supplying medicines and health commodities to public health facilities across Nasarawa State, NASDSMA plays a critical role in ensuring medicines remain available and affordable.
However, while medicines are routinely distributed through the public health system, there has been limited comparison between:
The last benchmarking exercise was conducted in 2024. Without regular price comparisons, it becomes difficult to determine whether procurement decisions are delivering the best value for money, whether medicine prices remain competitive, or whether patients are paying fair prices.
The current survey supports the mandate of the State Pricing Subcommittee and aligns with the requirements of the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) Operational Guideline, which calls for regular price benchmarking to inform pricing decisions and strengthen accountability.
The Price Benchmarking Survey seeks to generate practical evidence that can be used to improve procurement and pricing decisions across the state health system.
Specifically, the survey aims to:
Compare NASDSMA prices for tracer essential medicines against prices offered by authorised private-sector distributors to determine competitiveness and affordability.
Examine medicine prices across public health facilities, including tertiary, secondary, and primary healthcare facilities, and compare them with registered private-sector outlets such as community pharmacies and Proprietary Patent Medicine Vendors (PPMVs).
Provide actionable insights to strengthen procurement systems, improve supplier relationship management, enhance value for money, and support strategic sourcing decisions within NASDSMA.
The planning meeting and training brought together key pharmaceutical and health sector leaders from across the state, demonstrating a strong commitment to improving health procurement practices.
Participants included:
Data collection activities are being conducted across eight Local Government Areas and 52 survey sites, covering both upstream and downstream market segments.
The successful launch of this initiative reflects the commitment of numerous stakeholders dedicated to strengthening healthcare delivery in Nasarawa State.
Special appreciation goes to Pharm. Haruna Wakili, General Manager of NASDSMA, whose leadership and support have been instrumental in driving the initiative forward, as well as the NASDSMA management team for their continued commitment to institutionalising evidence-based decision-making.
Recognition is also due to the Chairman and members of the State Pricing Subcommittee for their dedication and willingness to undertake the extensive fieldwork required for the survey.
Upon completion of data collection and analysis, the findings will be disseminated to relevant stakeholders to support informed decision-making across the health sector.
By institutionalising price intelligence, Nasarawa State is laying the foundation for smarter procurement practices, stronger supply chain management, and improved access to affordable medicines. Ultimately, the initiative represents more than a survey. It is an investment in a health system that uses evidence to make better decisions, maximise limited resources, and ensure that quality-assured essential medicines remain within reach for the people who need them most.
Together, we are building a culture of strategic procurement and price transparency that will deliver lasting value for patients, health facilities, and the wider health system in Nasarawa State.