The rising cost of medicines is placing increasing pressure on Nigerian households, with patients managing chronic conditions among those hardest hit as prices of essential drugs continue to climb.

Over the past three years, the prices of several commonly used medicines, including antibiotics, hypertension drugs and insulin, have reportedly increased sharply, forcing some patients to reduce their purchases, delay treatment or seek cheaper alternatives.

Although the Federal Government has introduced measures including tax waivers and import-duty exemptions on pharmaceutical raw materials, manufacturers and pharmacists say high production costs, foreign exchange pressures, energy expenses and expensive credit continue to keep medicines beyond the reach of many Nigerians.

At community pharmacies across Lagos and other major cities, patients are increasingly asking for smaller quantities of prescribed medicines or postponing purchases altogether because of cost.

For people living with hypertension, diabetes and other chronic illnesses, the situation can be particularly dangerous because treatment often requires continuous medication.

A patient who previously spent a manageable amount on monthly medication may now have to choose between buying prescribed drugs and meeting basic household expenses such as food, transportation and school fees.

Healthcare professionals warn that patients who reduce dosages or stop taking medicines because of cost can face serious complications.

The situation may also push some consumers toward unregistered drug sellers or counterfeit medicines, creating additional risks to public health.

Nigeria has been working to increase domestic pharmaceutical production and reduce dependence on imported finished medicines.

The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has repeatedly advocated greater local production of essential medicines, while the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has introduced measures aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing.

However, manufacturers say producing medicines locally does not automatically make them cheap.

One of the biggest challenges is the cost of electricity.

Pharmaceutical factories require reliable power to operate manufacturing equipment, maintain controlled environments and meet quality standards. With unreliable grid supply, manufacturers are often forced to rely on diesel generators and other alternative sources of electricity.

The high cost of energy consequently becomes part of the final price paid by consumers.

Another major obstacle is Nigeria’s continued dependence on imported pharmaceutical raw materials.

Many locally manufactured medicines still require imported active pharmaceutical ingredients, chemicals, packaging materials and specialised machinery.

When the naira loses value against major foreign currencies, the cost of importing these materials rises. Those additional expenses are eventually reflected in wholesale and retail prices.

Delays at ports and other import-related charges can further increase the cost of production.

This creates a paradox in which a medicine may be manufactured in Nigeria but still remain heavily exposed to movements in the international foreign-exchange market.

The cost of borrowing is another challenge confronting pharmaceutical manufacturers.

High commercial lending rates make it difficult for companies to secure affordable financing for new production lines, modern equipment, research and development, and expansion of manufacturing facilities.

Smaller manufacturers are particularly vulnerable because they often lack the financial strength to absorb rising operational costs.

Industry stakeholders argue that without affordable long-term financing, Nigeria will struggle to build the large-scale pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity needed to bring prices down.

The departure or restructuring of some multinational pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria has also increased pressure on domestic manufacturers.

Local companies are expected to fill gaps in the supply chain while simultaneously dealing with high production costs and limited access to finance.

While greater domestic participation could ultimately strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry, industry stakeholders say the transition requires significant investment in infrastructure, technology and human capacity.

Manufacturers, pharmacists and healthcare advocates have called for more targeted interventions to bring down the cost of medicines.

One proposal is the creation of dedicated industrial electricity arrangements for pharmaceutical manufacturing clusters, allowing factories to access more reliable and affordable power.

Industry stakeholders have also called for financial incentives to encourage local production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, which would reduce dependence on imported raw materials.

Improved customs procedures and faster clearance of pharmaceutical inputs could also help reduce unnecessary costs across the supply chain.

For vulnerable patients, healthcare advocates have proposed targeted subsidies or insurance-based programmes to ensure that essential medicines remain affordable regardless of household income.

The medicine affordability crisis goes beyond the pharmaceutical industry.

When patients cannot afford prescribed drugs, the consequences can eventually be felt across the healthcare system through increased hospital admissions, complications from poorly managed chronic diseases and higher household healthcare expenditure.

For Nigeria, increasing local pharmaceutical production remains an important part of reducing dependence on imports and strengthening healthcare security.

But industry experts argue that production must be accompanied by policies that address electricity, foreign exchange, financing, infrastructure and raw-material supply.

Until those structural problems are tackled, the expansion of local pharmaceutical manufacturing may not translate into cheaper medicines for ordinary Nigerians.

For patients living from one prescription to the next, the question is becoming increasingly urgent: if Nigeria can manufacture more of its own medicines, when will those medicines actually become affordable?