Nigerian pharmacists have expressed deep concern over the scarcity of drugs produced by GlaxoSmithKline in the country.
They attributed the shortage to supply chain disruptions, a shortage of foreign exchange, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to some pharmacists, the scarcity has resulted in an unprecedented surge in drug prices, with costs soaring by a staggering 300 per cent.
This alarming development prompted the President of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Adewale Oladigbolu, to highlight the profound impact on patient care.
“The scarcity of GSK drugs and products from other companies is a significant concern,” remarked Oladigbolu.
He emphasized that GSK’s prominence as a marketer of widely known and widely used products exacerbates the issue.
Patient reliance on these medications, coupled with their scarcity and inflated prices, has created a distressing scenario.
Oladigbolu expressed worry about potential dire consequences, stating, “If the scarcity continues, it can even lead to the death of patients.”
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria is working closely with industry leaders to address the shortage.
They are implementing a platform for reporting medicine shortages, aiming to gather critical information and find solutions to the prevailing issues.
The Chairman of the Lagos State branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Gbolagade Iyiola, also highlighted the scarcity of GSK drugs, such as Ventolin, Augmentin, Seretide, Cervarix (HPV vaccine), Duodart, Zinnat, and Ampiclox, in the country.
Iyiola attributed the shortage primarily to forex challenges, stating, “The scarcity of forex is the major problem. Almost all their products are scarce.”
He noted that the prices of these drugs have significantly escalated due to increased demand and reduced supply.
As the scarcity persists, there is a growing concern that unscrupulous manufacturers may seize the opportunity to produce substandard drugs, posing a grave risk to patients.
Iyiola emphasized the necessity for the Nigerian government to ensure the availability of dollars, regardless of the monetary policies implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He emphasized the need for a favorable environment that would attract pharmaceutical companies like GSK to establish local manufacturing facilities in Nigeria.
“Until our economy revives its manufacturing sector, we will continue to face this problem. We must make Nigeria an attractive destination for drug production,” Iyiola urged.
