Recent economic policies of the federal government and the relocation of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a major drug manufacturer, from Nigeria have hit the pharmaceutical industry hard, raising the cost of drugs beyond the purchasing power of many Nigerians.

FIJ visited some pharmacies in Maryland and Drug Market in the Idumota area of Lagos State on Thursday for a market survey and found that some essential drugs for the treatment and management of sickle cell, depression and asthma have risen in prices.

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SERETIDE AND VENTOLIN INHALER

In Maryland, a pharmacy sold Seretide Diskus at N49,000. The same store sold Ventolin Inhaler for N8,500. These medicines are for the regular treatment of asthma, and are to be taken as prescribed by a physician.

A lady who did not mention her name but said she was a pharmacist at Medlink Pharmacy and Supermarket in Maryland explained that the price of Ventolin recently rose to the amount stated above. She said it was sold at N5,000 a few months earlier.

Somto, a pharmacy aide at a medicine store in Idumota, explained that the price of Ventolin had been regularly increasing since January. The drug went for N1,150 early this year, but the price has been steadily increased in the last few months.

He cited the relocation of GSK and inflation as responsible for the price instability. “One other thing I can say is that GSK has left Nigeria, and pharmacies who still have their products in store are taking advantage of that to increase their prices,” Somto said.

“We used to sell Ventolin inhaler at N1,150. Today, it is N8,500. Seretide was previously N4,200, but we now sell at N45,000.”

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS

Many Nigerians are facing depression due to many reasons. For some, it could be marriage-related and it could hinge on tight finances or job for others. Whatever the case, depression as a mental disorder is prevalent in Nigeria and many people are struggling to find their way out of it.

The World Health Organisation concludes that it is a leading cause of disability in the world and estimates that five percent of adults suffer from the disorder.

Somto further told this reporter there are different brands of the drugs for managing the condition. However, the only product in his store was Talen 3mg, which he sold at N1,100 currently. Before now, it was just N800, but it could go upwards soon. It is a short-term medication for excessive anxiety.

At another store, we found Cognitol 5mg used to handle depression, among other uses. The store attendant stated that its price rose from N1,500 to N2,300 in a short time.

SICKLE CELL DRUGS

With the rising cost of living, access to effective drugs by sickle cell patients could be threatened. Over 300,000 babies are born with severe haemoglobin disorders globally each year, and about 33 percent of them are born in Nigeria.

A drug essential to sickle cell patients is hydroxyurea. It’s a chemotherapy medication for the treatments of leukemia, head and neck cancer and pain from sickle cell anemia.

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The price of the drug has also increased. The drug is available in different milligrams. A medicine store manager at the Drug Market said he sold 250mg at N2,800 and 500mg at N3,200. He said these were the new prices. A month ago, one could get them at N2,300 and N2,800 respectively.

PATIENT’S LAMENTATION

On Wednesday, an asthma patient identified as Sulaimon Olajide lamented his inability to purchase Seretide and Ventolin Inhaler, two essential drugs for his health condition. He attributed the increase in the prices of the drugs to the shutdown of GSK.

“Nigeria’s government should come to asthmatic patients’ rescue, who cannot afford expensive drugs. Please, call GSK company back to Nigeria,” he said.

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“This Seretide was about N10,000 before. But because the company has left Nigeria, it was now N52,500 when I got to the pharmacy. Ventolin Inhaler that we used to buy for N1,500 or N2,000 now sells for N8,500.

“I cannot afford this. My salary is N45,000, and I must be taking the drugs. On behalf of all asthmatic patients, I am pleading that you come to our rescue. We cannot breathe if we don’t take these medicines. We will just be dying anyhow, but I pray that does not happen in Nigeria.”

GSK announced in August that it was transitioning from its direct operations in Nigeria to a third-party direct model after weighing available options. The company’s products include Ventolin, Augmentin, Neosporin, Theraflu, Panadol, Sensodyne, Advair.

The latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics puts October headline inflation, average inflation figure obtained from daily transactions, reported through consumer price index (CPI), at 27.33 percent. In the report, the NBS noted that pharmaceutical products were among the essential products that recorded the highest price differentials.

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FIJ understands that the medicines mentioned in this report are prescription-only drugs and this report is not in any way recommending them to anyone for use.