Rising Medication Costs Burden Nigerian Patients

In Nigeria, the rising cost of medications for chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and peptic ulcer disease is creating significant financial strain for patients and their families. A Benue resident with diabetes reports her children spending over N25,000 monthly on her medications, with one drug, Triviamet, costing N13,000 for a pack of 35 tablets.

Emmanuel Johnson from Kubwa, Abuja, has seen his monthly asthma medication costs rise from N8,000 to between N18,000 and N25,000. Abdullahi Kabiru, a civil servant, noted that his monthly expenditure on peptic ulcer medication has doubled from N6,000 to between N12,000 and N15,000.

Hassana Yusuf, whose son has epilepsy, also faces increased treatment costs. Health experts warn that these financial burdens lead to patients skipping doses or abandoning treatment altogether, a situation worsened by inflation, foreign exchange volatility, and cuts in U.S. foreign assistance, which have disrupted funding for health programs in Nigeria.