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Executive order to crash drug prices on President’s table – Minister

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The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has said an executive order to curb escalating drug prices in the country is awaiting the assent of President Bola Tinubu.

The ministry made this known to our correspondent exclusively upon inquiry on the update of the executive order.

Markets survey showed that prices of some antimalarial drugs have increased between 11 per cent to 22 per cent. Also, prices of antidiabetic drugs have increased by 20 per cent.

The situation is pushing many patients to skip their life-saving medications.

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The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, in February said the Federal Government would soon issue an executive order to curb escalating drug prices.

Pate, who spoke at the third edition of the ministerial press briefing series initiated by the Ministry of Information in Abuja, explained that the executive order was a short-term goal in reducing drug prices.

He added the FG’s mid to long-term goals towards reducing drug prices involved the domestication of imported drugs within the next three years in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

“The rising cost of pharmaceuticals is a pressing concern, and we are taking decisive action to address this issue. An executive order will soon be issued to curb escalating drug prices in the short term, while our mid to long-term goal involves the domestication of imported drugs within the next three years, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade,” Pate had said.

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Meanwhile, pharmacists in the country demanded details of the executive order.

According to them, the details will determine if the directive will help to crash drug prices in the country.

Stakeholders believe the increasing prices of medications are influenced by foreign exchange, inflation, importation of drugs, the elimination of fuel subsidies, and the exit of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc.

In an inquiry sent by our correspondent on the update of the executive order, Pate’s Special Assistant on Media and External Relations, Tashikalmah Hallah, said, “The Executive Order has been developed and vetted. Awaiting Mr President to assent and sign it. After that, it will become public.”

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Health

READ about indicators that you maybe having liver related problems

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The liver is an organ that sits just under the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen.

It can weigh up to 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms).

The liver is needed to help digest food, rid the body of waste products and make substances, called clotting factors, that keep the blood flowing well, among other tasks.

If there are symptoms of liver disease, they may include:

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*Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, called jaundice. …

*Belly pain and swelling.

*Swelling in the legs and ankles.

*Itchy skin.

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*Dark urine.

*Pale stool.

*Constant tiredness.

*Nausea or vomiting.

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If you’re experiencing these symptoms please see your doctor.

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Health

Benue records 20 suspected cases of Mpox, four confirmed

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Benue state government said it has recorded 20 suspected cases of Mpox with four of the cases confirmed.

The State Epidemiologist, Dr Asema Msuega, who disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday in Makurdi, said three of the cases have been treated and discharged while the fourth case was just confirmed last week Friday, September 6, 2024.

He said “For this year up-to-date, we have 20 suspected cases of Mpox and four confirmed cases in Benue State.

“Initially, we have three confirmed cases that were treated and discharged from isolation center, the fourth case was just confirmed last week Friday from the reference laboratory.”

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According to him, the fourth patient who is still in isolation is receiving treatment and responding well.

He said the confirmed cases are from two local government areas of the state including Makurdi and Gwer West adding “But for the suspected cases, they cut across five local government areas of the state; Ushongo, Kastina-Ala, Gboko, Makurdi and Gwer West.

“The most recent is from Gwer East which sample we have sent to the laboratory and awaiting result before the end of this week.”

Msuega who stated that many of the suspected cases have also come out of isolation, explained that “it’s not every case that we take to hospital for isolation, we advised some to self isolate at home just like we were doing during the outbreak of COVID-19.”

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He said the patients are being treated at the isolation center of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) the government is carrying out massive awareness campaigns to educate people about the disease and to imbibe basic prevention and control measures including washing of hands, avoiding unnecessary contacts with people, especially suspected person.

While harping on early detection and reporting, Msuega urged the Benue public to report suspected cases to appropriate authorities especially the nearest health centres, be it primary, secondary or tertiary health centres.

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Health

Resident doctors end warning strike

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Striking resident doctors yesterday ended their seven-day industrial action.

The strike was meant to persuade the government and security agencies to rescue one of their colleagues, Dr. Ganiyat Popoola-Olawale, who has been in her abductors’ den since December 27, last year.

The warning strike, which began on August 26, faced strong opposition from the Federal Government, which threatened to enforce a ‘no work, no pay’ policy against their doctors.

The government expressed disappointment over the union’s decision to embark on the strike, claiming that despite being informed of the various steps it was taking to address the situation, the union still went on strike.

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Despite this threat, the doctors saw the strike to its end.

Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) President Dele Abdullahi said the association would reassess the Federal Government’s actions over the next three weeks to ensure meaningful progress.

He said: “We are suspending the strike now. We will be meeting to review the progress the government has made in the next three weeks. “

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