The upward review of duties on imported products and goods by the Federal Government has raised prices of imported goods and products and is having deleterious effect on life generally for millions of Nigerians. But the area where the effects of the implementation of the new policy is biting most is in the health sector where it is causing patients and healthcare providers sleepless nights.

A circular by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun to the Nigeria Customs Services, NCS, raised the duty payable on imported medicaments such as anti-malarials and antibiotics.

Following the directive on Tax for medicaments in the circular entitled “Import Adjustment Tax.”, a 20 per cent tax is being imposed on imported medicaments. No sooner was this announcement made than the prices of common Over-The-Counter, OTC, medications such as antibiotics, antimalarials and antipyretics jumped through the roof.

Essential drugs like antimalarials and antibiotics have become more expensive in recent times as a result of the implementation of the 20 per cent duty tax on imported medicaments by the Federal Government.

In a number of pharmacies, chemist shops and other drug retail outlets across the Federation, prices of these drugs have gone out of the reach of the average Nigerians.

Millions of Nigerians already impoverished by the biting economic recession are now having tough time purchasing these medicaments.

Fears by health watchers that the new taxation policy on every imported pharmaceutical drug and allied products, will trigger unparalled increases in prices are already founded.

Latest inventory of drug prices showed that the effect of the duty increase has been astronomical, and those bearing the full effect of the development are the end users, that is the consumers.

For most, gone are hopes of affordable and available health care.

A recent independent nationwide survey of prices of medicaments conducted by I CARE, a non-governmental organisation, shows there is an astronomical increase on the heels of the implementation of the new import duty policy.

Prices of drugs commonly used in the treatment and/ or management of some of the health challenges of Nigerians especially in the rural areas have shot through the roof in most drug outlets across the country. According to the survey, a common anti-hypertensive drug,
Co–Dovan, that cost N3,000 per pack before the 20 per cent duty took effect, now costs N10,000.

Meropenem Injection, a lifesaving antibiotic, normally used for complicated infections, was selling for N4,600 per ampoule, but now cannot be purchased for less than N18,000. Felene, a Non – Steriodal Anti- Inflammatory Drug, NSAID, normally used for treatment of Arthritic conditions, was N180 per pack, now it is N500 per pack. The drug is used for life.

Other drugs include Insulin for diabetics 100iu that was selling for N900, now costs N3000 in the shops; Ketamin injection, an Anasthestic agent used for surgical operations, used to be bought for under N1,000, is now N8,000.00;
Omeprazole an anti-ulcer drug was selling for N150 a pack, but now costs more than N1,000; Anti-Tetanus Serum (ATS), a life-saving injection for dog bites, and injuries from nails and sharp, rusty objects was N6,000 but is now N45,000; a box of eight packets of Omega H3 multivitamin capsules was N8,000, it is now N16,000; Vitamin B complex injection that was N1,800 per pack, is now N7,000 in the shops, while Fortuin injection used for crashing post operative pains,is currently selling for N18,000 per pack of 100 in the shops, compared to about N7,500 previously.

Also affected are Gyno – Trosyd for vaginal candidiasis, it was costing N1,400 per pack, but is now N2,500. Malaria drugs for adults and children are not spared. The average cost used to range between N200 and N500, but is now more than N1,000 for the cheapest.

Vanguardngr