Despite President Bola Tinubu’s executive order scrapping tariffs and VAT on pharmaceutical imports and cut healthcare costs, Nigerians are still paying more for essential drugs.
In June 2024, Tinubu announced a policy meant to cut costs and boost local drug production. The order introduced zero tariffs on raw materials and offered waivers to encourage pharmaceutical manufacturers. Authorities promised quick implementation.
However, more than a year later, patients say the healthcare relief never came. Prices of medicines have surged between 30 and 100 percent in the past 14 months, according to a survey.
Drugs for chronic illnesses highlight the crisis. Insulin now costs N18,000, up from N14,000 in June 2024. A glucometer rose from N20,500 to N29,000.
For hypertension, metformin climbed from N500 to N650, while amlodipine increased from N1,800 to N2,400. Exforge jumped sharply from N32,800 to N60,000.
Malaria treatment in Nigerian healthcare has also become more expensive. Coartem spiked from N3,800 to N8,500, while Artesunate injections rose from N1,600 to N2,500. Lokmal tablets more than doubled, moving from N1,200 to N2,450.
Only a few drugs became cheaper. Amoxicillin/Clavunic Acid dropped from N18,500 to N14,000, while Salbutamol inhalers fell slightly from N8,500 to N7,500. Yet these remain rare exceptions.
The Nigeria Customs Service claims it has begun implementing the healthcare waivers, but patients and pharmacists insist the measures are not working. Instead, Nigerians battling chronic diseases and everyday ailments are stranded, with medication prices climbing beyond their reach.
