Diabetes Patients in Abuja Cry Out as Medication Costs Skyrocket
Patients living with diabetes in Abuja have expressed distress over the sudden and drastic increase in medication costs, which have risen from N70,000 to N180,000 per month. This staggering increase has left many struggling to afford the life-saving medications they need to manage their condition.
Bernard Enyia, Vice-President of the Diabetes Association in Nigeria, shared his personal experience, stating that his monthly medication expenses have more than doubled in just a year. He emphasized that this increase is unsustainable for many Nigerians, forcing some to ration their medications or seek unorthodox means.
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Enyia highlighted the severity of diabetes complications, including heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness, if left poorly managed. He also noted the World Health Organization’s link between Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases.
Other individuals living with diabetes shared their personal struggles, including job loss, marital problems, and life-threatening hyperglycemic episodes. Health experts and advocates are calling for national and international support to alleviate the financial burden on citizens living with diabetes.
Pharmacy director Juliet Bernard attributed the cost increase to the country’s reliance on imported insulin, which has been affected by the dollar exchange rate. She emphasized the essential need for insulin in managing blood sugar levels, making the disease expensive to manage.
The government is urged to subsidize essential medications and improve healthcare infrastructure to support citizens living with diabetes.
