Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management and Drug Stockout Patterns in Primary Healthcare Centres Across Kwara State

Drug stockouts in primary healthcare centres undermine the effectiveness of Nigeria's public health system and contribute to avoidable morbidity and mortality. Kwara State in the North Central geopolitical zone has implemented several supply chain reforms under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, yet systematic assessment of stockout patterns and their root causes at the PHC level remains limited. This study evaluated pharmaceutical supply chain performance and drug stockout frequency in thirty primary healthcare centres across three local government areas in Kwara State. Data collection involved structured facility assessments, key informant interviews with facility managers and the State Medical Stores, and review of stock cards over a twelve-month period. The pull system for drug requisition had been implemented in all facilities, yet stockout rates for tracer medicines averaged 38% across the study period. The most frequently stocked-out medicines included oral rehydration salts, artemisinin-based combination therapies, and injectable oxytocin. Primary contributors to stockouts included delayed fund releases, inaccurate forecasting, and inadequate storage infrastructure at the facility level. Facilities with trained pharmacists or pharmacy technicians showed significantly lower stockout rates. The study recommends integration of real-time inventory management systems and investment in facility-level pharmaceutical workforce capacity to reduce stockouts and improve essential medicine availability. Keywords: drug stockouts, supply chain management, primary healthcare, Kwara State, essential medicines.