Drug costs in Nigeria have risen greater than 100% forward of Christmas, creating worse monetary burdens and elevating issues about entry to important medicines throughout the festive season.
Costs of medicine used within the therapy of widespread ailments comparable to malaria and hypertension have greater than doubled in some instances, a Nairametrics survey carried out in Lagos and Abuja exhibits.
That is amid a galloping inflationary stress.
That is proven within the 135% improve within the costs of some anti-malaria medication and 83% for some medication utilized in managing hypertension.
The sharp value will increase usually are not restricted to those medication. Different important therapies like antibiotics and insulin have skilled hikes of as much as 157%, inserting an extra monetary burden on households already stretched skinny by rising dwelling prices.
In the meantime, Nigeria’s naira has misplaced 72% of its worth because the naira float reforms in June 2022, hitting N1,658 per greenback on the Nigerian Autonomous International Trade Market on Tuesday, knowledge from FMDQ confirmed.
Pharmacists say weak naira and inflation have regularly spiked the costs of pharmaceutical uncooked supplies used within the manufacturing of medicine as over 80% of the manufacturing parts are imported.
With Christmas nearing, Nigerians are compelled to make robust choices, balancing well being wants with vacation expenditures. Many residents describe the present price of pharmaceuticals as “unreasonable” and are calling for pressing measures to scale back costs.
Worth modifications
A survey reveals a rise within the costs of important medicines in Abuja.
The price medication comparable to Coartem, Augmentin, and insulin—essential for managing malaria, infections, and diabetes —have seen substantial value surges in current months in Abuja. A comparability between 2023 and 2024 exhibits the severity of this pattern.
Coartem (Antimalarial)
Coartem, a generally used antimalarial, has seen a dramatic value surge. In early 2023, a dose price simply N1,200 however climbed steadily to N3,500 by mid-year. By October 2024, it reached N4,500, earlier than spiking to N6,000—marking an general improve of over 135% since 2023.
Augmentin (Antibiotic)
Provide chain disruptions have fueled sharp fluctuations within the value of Augmentin. The kids’s suspension (228mg) now prices N9,000, up 157% from N3,500 earlier this yr. In the meantime, the grownup dose (1g) has stabilized at N15,200, a lower from a peak of N30,000 final yr, although nonetheless prohibitively costly for a lot of.
Seretide (Bronchial asthma Therapy)
Bronchial asthma sufferers face steep challenges with Seretide, as its value has soared from N6,500–N7,500 in early 2023 to ₦30,000—a 361% improve. The absence of inexpensive options has left many struggling to handle their situation.
Hormoni (Insulin for Diabetes)
For diabetes sufferers, the price of Hormoni insulin surged by 155%, rising from N5,650 in January 2023 to N13,500–N14,500 by late 2023. Nevertheless, its present unavailability has compelled sufferers to modify to Misater 30 insulin, which has additionally seen a 160% hike, from N7,500 in 2023 to N19,500 in 2024.
Different Worth Will increase
The value of blood stress medicines rose from N550 to N950, a 73% bounce, including to the pressure on households.
Even over-the-counter medication haven’t been spared. Paracetamol, for instance, has seen an 820% improve—from N25 in 2023 to N230 in 2024. Equally, a sachet of Panadol now prices N550, additional compounding monetary challenges for households.
Survey highlights present costs in Lagos pharmacies
Lagos pharmacies have proven the present value will increase for important medicines, notably these used to handle blood stress, infections, and ldl cholesterol.
Blood Stress medicines
- Amlodipine: Costs vary from N1,400 for the 5mg pill to N1,700 for the 10mg dosage.
- Ramipril: The 10mg pill prices between N2,500 and N3,000, relying on the pharmacy.
- Lisinopril: Costs fluctuate by dosage, with the 5mg pill at N1,500, the 10mg at N2,500, and the 25mg at N4,000.
- Moduretic: A typical diuretic for hypertension is bought at N400.
- Co-approval 10/150: A mix drug, now priced at N15,000.
Antibiotics
- Amoxil: The 250mg pill is priced at N2,000, whereas the 500mg dosage prices N3,500.
- Augmentin: Costs vary from N9,000 for the 457mg pill to N18,000 for the 1g dose.
Ldl cholesterol administration medication
- Atorvastatin: Prices N3,500 for the 10mg pill and N4,500 for the 20mg dosage.
- Simvastatin: Out there at N3,000.
- Plagerin: Priced at N5,500, additional emphasizing the monetary burden on these managing power situations.
The wrestle for well being amid rising prices
For a lot of Nigerian households managing power sicknesses, the festive season has grow to be a interval of monetary pressure, overshadowed by the urgent must prioritize well being over celebrations.
Households like that of Mrs. Yetunde Akinwale in Lagos are grappling with robust trade-offs. “My husband has hypertension, and I’ve diabetes. Collectively, we spend practically N35,000 month-to-month on medication. This Christmas, we’re slicing again on items and meals to make sure we’ve sufficient for our medicines,” she shared with Nairametrics.
In Abuja, Nkechi, a mom of three, displays on the escalating price of her medicines.
“In 2023, I spent nearly N80,000 on hypertension and diabetes medication. By December 2024, my blood stress remedy now prices N3,500 month-to-month, up from N1,500 final yr, and my insulin rose from N7,500 to N14,000. I’ve spent every little thing I had this yr on my well being,” she laments.
Specialists’ evaluation of value hikes
Well being economist Dr. Uchenna Eze attributes the rising prices to Nigeria’s dependency on imported pharmaceutical components, compounded by the foreign exchange disaster.
“Over 80% of the lively pharmaceutical components (APIs) used regionally are imported. The foreign exchange challenges have pushed up import prices, and with restricted native manufacturing capability, the state of affairs has worsened,” he defined.
Eze warns of the broader implications: “Unaffordable medicines result in poorer well being outcomes and elevated pressure on the healthcare system as preventable situations flip into emergencies.”
Pharmacists echo these issues. Mr. Peter, a pharmacist in Lagos, observes a troubling pattern: “Sufferers are skipping doses or choosing cheaper, much less efficient options. That is harmful and will result in extreme issues.”
Equally, Tochukwu, a pharmacist in Apo, Abuja, highlights the burden on each sufferers and sellers.
“Diabetes medicines are actually so costly that clients typically break down in tears. Final week, a lady got here in crying as a result of her traditional diabetes remedy had jumped from N6,000 to N19,000. It’s heartbreaking, she famous”
Pharm. Patrick Ajah, Managing Director of Could & Baker PLC, factors to the foreign exchange disaster as a serious driver of the worth hikes.
“The alternate charge has risen from N461 to N1,600–N1,700 per greenback in two years—a depreciation of over 300%. Pharmaceutical corporations are incurring losses, making value stabilization practically inconceivable with out authorities help,” he cautioned.
Calls for presidency intervention
Pharmacists and business leaders are advocating for focused measures to alleviate the disaster. Strategies embody:
- Foreign exchange Reforms: Addressing the foreign exchange challenges to stabilize import prices.
- Native Manufacturing Help: Investing in home pharmaceutical manufacturing to scale back reliance on imports.
- Subsidies for Important Medication: Offering subsidies, notably throughout festive seasons, to ease family burdens.
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