Diabetes patients cry out as insulin prices skyrocket

The Network of Persons Living with Diabetes in Nigeria petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the hyper inflation of insulin in the country.

The group in the petition signed by its national coordinator Bernard Enyia and shared to our correspondent, claims that the cost of essential diabetes treatments, including insulin, has increased from N3,500 to N26,000 in just two years.

According to the petition, the prices of glucometers and test strips have also risen to N30,000 and N15,000, respectively, forcing diabetic patients to spend over N150,000 monthly on treatment.

The group notes that non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, account for 29% of annual deaths in Nigeria, with 11.2 million Nigerians living with diabetes, 60% of whom remain undiagnosed.

The petitioners are calling on the federal government to increase the sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax from N10/L to N130/L, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

This increase, he said could generate N729 billion ($471.8 million USD) for healthcare, including diabetes care.

The group’s head, Bernard, said, “We urge the federal government to take immediate action to address this crisis. The current SSB tax is insufficient, and we cannot continue to prioritize corporate profits over Nigerians’ well-being.”