The escalating costs of inhalers present a major obstacle for asthma patients, particularly as the world observes Asthma Day this week.
The exit of multinational companies like GSK from west african giant Nigeria, combined with inflation, has caused prices to skyrocket, making crucial medications prohibitively expensive.
Consequently, patients are seeking alternative treatment options. On World Asthma Day 2024, Nigeria grapples with a growing health emergency as the prices of asthma medications surge by over 500% in less than a year.
This has prompted individuals like Khalida Jihad, who has battled asthma for nearly three decades, to reduce their reliance on medical supplies.
“I hardly buy and stock up any more…but I definitely have to have inhaler no matter the cost I definitely have to have it but then what about people who can’t afford to have it?” she stated.
Rita Joseph, a college student, has resorted to untested alternatives due to the unaffordable price of inhalers.
“For four months now, I can’t afford inhaler because of the high price so, I now use ginger, garlic, cloves, lemon and other natural ingredients because they are cheaper,” she said.
Asthma, a chronic lung disease causing breathing difficulties, affects millions globally, resulting in more than 450,000 preventable deaths annually according to the World Health Organization.
Despite the absence of recent official data, a 2019 survey suggested that Nigeria has 13 million asthma sufferers, making it one of the highest in Africa.
Public health experts such as Ejike Orji are concerned that the escalating cost of medication may precipitate a crisis.
“If the drug to manage that is not handy when someone has an acute attack, it leads to loss of life,” Orji said. “As one asthma is finishing attack, another one is starting and that is why affordability of those drugs is very important.
“Good example, Ventolin inhaler is a standard drug people buy, now Ventolin inhaler is not even in the market.”
Asthma disproportionately affects low-income countries, where over 80% of deaths occur due to factors such as lack of awareness, inadequate disease management, and limited access to healthcare, as highlighted by WHO.
Orji stresses the importance of the Nigerian government taking proactive steps to raise asthma awareness.
“One area where the government can make a difference is by enhancing public education and community engagement to foster comprehensive awareness of asthma triggers, preventive measures, and immediate actions to take during an attack,” Orji emphasized.
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