Breathing in Nigeria: The High Cost of Asthma Management

Its clear as day that Nigerian Asthma patients re paying heavily to breathe!

This is because, the cost of asthma inhalers in Nigeria has soared, doubling or even tripling since the end of last year. This surge undoubtedly poses a significant challenge for asthma patients, who are grappling with the inflated prices of these essential medications.

The Turbulent Lines

Inhalers, a crucial component of asthma management, are among the essential health items experiencing steep price hikes. A prime example is the Ventolin inhaler, a standard treatment that has become scarce in the market. This scarcity and the accompanying price surge raise a critical question: should sufferers have to pay exorbitantly just to breathe?

The price increase is closely tied to the departure of foreign pharmaceutical firms like GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), which has left patients reliant on alternative producers that are not as affordable.

Nora Odu, an asthma patient, shares her experience: “For four months now, I can’t afford an inhaler because of the high price, so I now use ginger, garlic, cloves, lemon, and other natural ingredients because they are cheaper.”

Poor Data

While Nigeria lacks recent official data on asthma prevalence, a 2019 survey estimated that the country has 13 million asthma sufferers, placing it among the nations with the highest number of asthma patients.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), asthma cannot be cured, but treatments like inhalers deliver medication directly to the lungs, allowing patients to lead normal, active lives.

The WHO recommends that people with asthma have access to proper healthcare, but in developing countries like Nigeria, the situation is more complicated. The departure of companies like GSK has exacerbated these challenges, leaving many patients without access to their previously affordable medications.

A popular online news platform, Reuters paints a grim picture with what it had earlier observed.

‘Poor’ Alternatives

In the wake of GSK’s exit, patients have turned to alternatives such as Longlife Pharmaceuticals, which primarily sells Aeroline inhalers.

Other options include Symbicort inhalers, manufactured by AstraZeneca, and Fortide inhalers, distributed by Pakistani pharmaceutical company Getz Pharma. Despite being recognized and available, these alternatives are largely unaffordable for many patients.

Innovation Light Is Up Elsewhere 

In stark contrast, innovative solutions are being explored elsewhere. In Leicester, smart inhalers are being trialed to reduce asthma deaths and hospitalizations, highlighting the disparity in asthma management resources between different regions.

Let’s not forget 

Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes breathing difficulties and affects millions globally. According to established data, it results in more than 450,000 preventable deaths annually, according to the WHO.

For Nigerian asthma patients, the high cost of inhalers has added an unnecessary burden, underscoring the urgent need for affordable and accessible asthma treatments in the country.

The rising cost of asthma inhalers in Nigeria has created a dire situation for patients. With the departure of key pharmaceutical companies and the resulting reliance on expensive alternatives, asthma sufferers are left to navigate a challenging healthcare landscape.

Ensuring access to affordable asthma treatments is crucial for improving the quality of life for millions of sufferers in Nigeria.