Soaring Drug Costs and Poor Awareness Fueling Hypertension Deaths in Nigeria
A recent review of Nigerian newspaper reports and health expert opinions has brought to light a critical public health crisis: a significant increase in hypertension-related deaths. The surge is primarily attributed to two interconnected issues: the escalating cost of essential medications and a widespread lack of public awareness about the disease.
Detailed Breakdown of the Key Issues:
Unaffordable Medication Costs: The ongoing economic challenges and high inflation in Nigeria have had a devastating impact on the price of drugs, a large portion of which are imported. For many patients, the monthly cost of life-saving hypertension medication has become unsustainable. For instance, reports indicate that the price of some premium hypertension drugs has quadrupled in recent years, with a single sachet now costing over N8,000. With many patients requiring multiple sachets monthly, the total expense can exceed N24,000, placing immense financial strain on households. While cheaper generics are available, their prices are also rising, forcing many Nigerians, especially retirees and low-income earners, to make a difficult choice between buying medicine and affording basic necessities like food.
The "Silent Killer" and Low Awareness: Hypertension is often dubbed a "silent killer" because it typically shows no symptoms until it leads to a serious medical emergency. Despite an estimated 41 million Nigerians living with the condition, a staggering number are undiagnosed. Health reports suggest that only about 60% of hypertensive Nigerians are aware of their status, and of those, fewer than 15% have their blood pressure under proper control. This low control rate is a result of several factors, including the high cost of treatment, the misconception that medication is only needed when symptoms are present, and a general lack of understanding about the importance of consistent, lifelong treatment.
Public Health Consequences: The combination of these challenges is leading to a noticeable increase in sudden deaths from complications such as stroke, heart attacks, and kidney failure. Health experts, including cardiologists and pharmacists, are raising alarms, noting that poorly managed or untreated hypertension is often the underlying cause of these fatalities.
Calls for Action: In response, medical professionals are urgently calling on the government and health stakeholders to intervene. They recommend measures to address the high cost of imported drugs, increase healthcare funding, and expand the reach of public education campaigns. These campaigns would focus on encouraging regular blood pressure checks, promoting healthier lifestyles (including reduced salt intake), and emphasizing the critical importance of long-term medication adherence to effectively manage the disease.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
