As part of efforts to ensure drugs  availability and quality healthcare delivery service, the Kogi State government has inaugurated an Essential Drugs Monitoring Committee. Inaugurating the committee yesterday in Lokoja, Commissioner  for Health, Dr. Omede Idris,  said the committee was necessary to ensure accountability and sustainability of the essential  drugs revolving scheme. Idris said the concept of essential drugs scheme was to ensure that basic drugs are available,  accessible and affordable  to patients, adding that the essential medicines list has been reviewed five times since 2010.  He said maximum cooperation of management of the various health facilities is  desirable. The five man committee is drawn from staff of departments of pharmaceutical services, nursing, and accounts/audits of the Hospital Management Board and central medical services of the ministry of health.