A former president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mr. Olumide Akintayo, has said research shows Nigerians spend up to N43.8bn annually to treat malaria, Punchng report.
He said the exact amount spent on malaria treatment might be about N100bn if the costs of analgesics, multivitamins and others were factored in.
Akintayo, therefore, urged health care providers to take pragmatic steps to combat the scourge of malaria in the country.
He made this statement at a round-table discussion organised by the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria to commemorate the World Malaria Day, which held on April 25.
He said, “A nation of about 180 million people which continues to allow 65 per cent of its population, which amounts to almost 120 million people, expend about N120m daily to treat malaria, needs to curb such waste.
“The figure transcends to a whopping N43.8bn expenditure on treating only core malaria. A figure which might easily hit the N100bn mark if other additives, including the costs of analgesics and multivitamins, are factored in.”
The pharmacist said more should be done to fight malaria in the country, while calling on stakeholders in the health care industry to focus on preventive care.
