Prices of cancer-related drugs rise due to naira devaluation

Osasogie Eboigbe, a pharmacist with Biogenerics Nigeria Limited in Abuja, says the recent devaluation of naira has led to an increase in the cost of drugs across the country.

Ebogie, who said this during an interview with NAN on Tuesday, added that the most affected drugs were the imported ones.

“The price of drugs for treating cancer-related diseases have increased because of the falling naira to dollar exchange rate in the international market,” he said.

“You have to pay more now to buy drugs abroad and import to Nigeria. Because all the drugs in this category (cancer) are imported to Nigeria, they’re not locally made.”

Osaetin Asowata, another pharamacist, said companies were increasing prices of drugs by five to 10 per cent, citing drugs of Leukaemia as example.

“Some drugs used in treating Leukaemia: Glivec (multinational brand of ImatiniB-) sells for N590,000 per two to four weeks treatment,” he said.

“Imatinate (Indian brand of imatiniB-) goes for N30,000 for two to four weeks. Hydroxyurea is about N500 for one week treatment.

“Methotrexate Dail injection is about N3,000. Cyclophosphamide is about N1,000 per daily injection. Cyclosporin is about N22,000 for a month of the international brand. These are figures before Naira devaluation.

“But companies are increasing the prices by five to 10 per cent after the devaluation of the naira.”