Neimeth, NHF tackle high cost of hypertensive drugs

By  CHIOMA OBINNA

With 25 per cent of adult Nigerians suffering hypertension, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc is slashing prices of its anti- hypertensive drugs by 50 per cent.

The price cut which is in partnership with the Nigerian Heart Foundation; NHF is aimed at lessening the burden of huge cost of anti- hypertensive treatment on Nigerian patients.

The novel programme tagged: ‘fight the good fight against hypertension”, will provide free anti-hypertensive drugs to the less privileged  aged 60 years and above.

*Drug store

At the launch in Lagos last week, MD/CEO Neimeth, Mr. Emmanuel Ekunno  said cost of most anti- hypertensives  range from N100-N200  per therapy.

“Most times, fakers cash in on this gap and produce dangerous alternatives that can endanger life or result in serious organ damage.  Apart from the low level of awareness of hypertension, to reduce the consequences, there is need to make the therapeutic products available. To make them available, they need to be affordable,” he said.

“Everyone can fight the good fight against hypertension in many ways than one. We are fighting ours by making the essential drugs available. This initiative is being put in place to encourage all Nigerians to join hands as partners in the fight against hypertension.

The ‘fight the good fight against hypertension’ has affordability of drugs, awareness of disease condition, action and assistance to patients as four key components.

Executive Director NHF, Dr. Kingsley Akinroye said the reality of the initiative was coming at a critical time.

He added that the cost-cutting gesture supports WHO-recommendation on local production of drugs, based on the premise that when drugs are locally produced, the country would enjoy about 60 per cent price cut.