Doctors urge FG to subsidise insulin as prices surge to ₦25,000

Doctors are appealing to the Nigerian Federal Government to subsidize insulin and implement a specific policy to improve access for individuals with Type 1 diabetes, as the medication's price has dramatically increased. Endocrinologists highlighted the substantial financial strain the rising cost places on young people managing the condition, warning that inaccessibility could lead to fatal outcomes.

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All the days of their lives, at least three times a day, they will need to inject that insulin or else the blood sugar goes excessively high.

The call was made during the sixth Annual Ogun State Youth Diabetes Camp, organized by the Talabi Diabetes Centre in Abeokuta. Dr. Olubiyi Adeshina, the Camp Coordinator, explained that Type 1 diabetes results from the immune system destroying insulin-producing cells, making external insulin essential for survival. He cautioned that prolonged insulin deficiency can cause dangerously high blood sugar, leading to coma and death.

Adeshina noted the stark price increase for insulin, with a vial now costing around N25,000, up from about N5,000. For patients requiring two vials monthly, this translates to roughly N50,000 solely for insulin, excluding other necessary expenses like blood glucose monitoring. "It’s a tough battle. How are we going to get insulin to these young people so that they can survive into adulthood?" he questioned.

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It’s a tough battle. How are we going to get insulin to these young people so that they can survive into adulthood?

Dr. Ayotunde Ale, the Acting Director of the Talabi Diabetes Centre, echoed these concerns, urging President Bola Tinubu to establish a dedicated policy for those with Type 1 diabetes, particularly children and young adults. She emphasized the critical need for government intervention to make insulin more affordable and accessible, also appealing to the National Assembly to address the challenges impacting the quality of life for individuals with the condition. Beyond financial burdens, Ale also pointed to stigma and misconceptions as significant hurdles faced by young people with Type 1 diabetes.

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Insulin is very, very expensive. Now, with inflation and everything ongoing in society, a packet, a month’s supply, now costs about N25,000 against N5,000 that we used to purchase insulin.