Pharmacist Samuel Adamatie, a drug development expert based in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has lamented the soaring price of drugs in Nigeria.
Pharm Adamatie disclosed that the effect of this means that substandard drugs will begin to find their way into the country.
He stressed that Nigerians would have to rely on lifestyle modifications to stay healthy or make do with herbal medicines, which he cautioned have side effects.
“Price of drugs are soaring high….. effect and consequences abound…this re-designing of our currency has also contributed to dollar scarcity amongst others and by extension made drug prices soar because of course we import.
“Substandard drugs will begin to find their way into Nigeria now that the prices of drugs are soaring by the second and people will begin to get substandard drugs, rely on lifestyle modifications alone or return to herbal drugs but all these have their consequences,” Adamatie stated.
Cautioning on the side effects of substandard drugs, the Abuja-based pharmacist stated: “You have to be cautious. Substandard drugs can lead to a whole lot. They do not give the required response i.e no complete recovery, you think you are well and after some time you are sick again.
“A substandard drug does not deliver the appropriate quantity to curable/controllable levels. For instance, you need 500mg of a drug and the label says 500mg but its actual content is 250mg. Because it’s cheap, you buy, whereas you are not getting what is needed.
“A substandard drug can lead to drug resistance making one spend more than even expected normally in terms of money and time to get proper treatment”.
Adamatie disclosed that not every ailment or sickness that lifestyle modification can help maintain or cure from the onset.
“So, if you think that since I can’t afford the drugs let me just focus on exercise or what I eat alone then you might just be doing more harm than good. Seek advice before going through that route. Not because drugs are now expensive then you decide to abstain. The consequences might be regrettable.
“Meanwhile for those who want to return to herbal preparations due to the hike in the price of orthodox drugs, no problem but be cautious. Most kidney failures or diseases are a result of unwholesome use of herbal preparations.
“So if you want to use one, make sure you are sure of its source, dosage and sure of its content, meaning it should be well labelled by the appropriate authorities,” Adamatie stressed.
On how Nigerians can help themselves in this period of increase in the prices of drugs, the drug development expert advised citizens to be less prone sickness by practising good hygiene.
“Watch what you eat. You are what you eat. Reduce junks so you won’t spend money to remove the same junks. You just have to be deliberate. If you don’t exercise then you need to. Preventive medicine is now the way forward. The mind needs to relax too. Anxiety, worries, and stress are not good for your health if not you will require medication.
“Finally on this issue of substandard drugs, I will say as a community pharmacist that the bitterness of low quality drug remain long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten,” Adamatie advised.
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