Tackle high cost of drugs, APC chief tells Tinubu

Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene in the hike in prices of essential drugs in the country.

Oyintiloye, who made the appeal while speaking with newsmen, yesterday, in Osogbo, said many Nigerians are unable to access most essential drugs due to high costs.

He said the escalating prices of the drugs could be attributed to a combination of factors, such as the withdrawal of GSK, a major player in the pharmaceutical industry, the high rate of inflation and devaluation of naira, among others.

Oyintiloye said the list factors, among others, had made prices of drugs such as amlodipine, augmentin, paracetamol, exforge, Coartem, and other essential drugs to become unaffordable for the common man.

According to him, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that the value of medicines imported into Nigeria has risen by 68 per cent to N81.8 billion between July and September 2023.

Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, said the surge in the prices of drugs had placed a significant financial strain on individuals and families already struggling with the harsh economy.

“When local currency weakens against foreign currencies, the expenses incurred in procuring these essential medical supplies rise, consequently driving up the overall prices of medicines in the country,” he said. 

Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council, noted that patients struggling with chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis, among others, were now finding it difficult to cope with the surge in the prices of their medication.