Calabar — In a landmark legislative move to improve healthcare delivery across Cross River State, the State House of Assembly has repealed the 2002 Essential Drugs Programme Law and passed the Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency Bill, 2025.
The bill, sponsored by Chief Whip and member representing Boki 2 State Constituency, Hon. Hillary Bisong, was introduced on September 12, 2024, and passed after a unanimous vote during plenary. It had earlier gone through a second reading on September 18, before being reviewed by the House Committee on Health, Nutrition, and Food Security, which Bisong also chairs.
The new law transitions from a programme-based approach to a full-fledged agency framework. According to Bisong, this shift marks a significant step forward in modernizing the state’s health supply system.
“Following a detailed examination, the Committee observed that the proposed bill provides a more comprehensive and contemporary structure for managing drugs and health commodities,” he said. “It broadens its operational scope to better address today’s healthcare delivery challenges.”
The agency will be tasked with regulating the management and distribution of drugs, vaccines, medical devices, reagents, equipment, and related materials throughout the state. It will also oversee the central drug receipt and distribution system to ensure efficiency, especially at the local government level.
Lawmakers expressed strong support for the legislation, noting its potential to enhance the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme and create employment opportunities for residents.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, praised the passage of the bill and reiterated the Assembly’s dedication to enacting laws that serve the people and promote effective governance.
