Implications of the rising cost of insulin and other antihyperglycaemic drugs in the management of diabetes mellitus in Nigeria

Otovwe Agofure

Abstract


Abstract

Diabetes mellitus stands as a paramount public health issue within Nigeria, deeply compounded by escalating costs of insulin and other hypoglycemic medications. The price surge, influenced by factors such as inflation and reliance on imports, significantly impedes access to vital drugs for numerous individuals managing diabetes in Nigeria. The resultant financial strain on patients’ insufficient healthcare infrastructure and subpar insurance coverage collectively precipitates deteriorated health outcomes and inflated healthcare expenditures. Non-adherence to prescribed medications due to prohibitive costs further amplifies complications and hospital admissions, thereby imposing significant pressure on both patients and the broader healthcare system. There is an imperative need for efficacious strategies encompassing drug price regulation, implementation of subsidies, encouragement of generic drug use, and enhancement of healthcare financing to address and alleviate these pervasive issues, ultimately fostering better diabetes management in Nigeria.

 

Received: 23 July 2024

Accepted: 14 November 2024

Published: 24 November 2024


Keywords


Diabetes mellitus, Hypoglycemic drugs, Financial burden, Complications, Healthcare financing, Nigeria

Full Text:

PDF

References


Nakrani MN, Wineland RH, Anjum F. Physiology, Glucose Metabolism [Internet]. 2023. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560599/

Agofure O, Okandeji-Barry O, Ogbon P. Pattern of diabetes mellitus complications and co-morbidities in ughelli north local government area, Delta State, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Basic and Clinical Sciences. 2020;17(2):123.

Agofure O, Odjimogho S, Okandeji-Barry O, Efegbere H, Nathan H. Pattern of diabetes mellitus-related complications and mortality rate: Implications for diabetes care in a low-resource setting. Sahel Medical Journal. 2020;23(4):206.

Kemp S. Digital 2024: Nigeria [Internet]. 2024. Available from: https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2024-nigeria

International Diabetes Federation. Country Profile Nigeria 2021. Available from: https://idf.org/our-network/regions-and-members/africa/members/nigeria/

Agofure O, Oyewole OE, Igumbor EO, Nwose EU. Diabetes care in delta state of Nigeria: An expository review. Diabetes Updates. 2018;5(3).

Lorenzati B, Zucco C, Miglietta S, Lamberti F, Bruno G. Oral Hypoglycemic Drugs: Pathophysiological Basis of Their Mechanism of ActionOral Hypoglycemic Drugs: Pathophysiological Basis of Their Mechanism of Action. Pharmaceuticals. 2010 Sep 15;3(9):3005–20.

The Punch Nigeria February 18th [Internet]. 2024. Available from: https://punchng.com/weak-naira-high-import-tariffs-drive-up-essential-drug-prices/

Deshpande AD, Harris-Hayes M, Schootman M. Epidemiology of Diabetes and Diabetes-Related Complications. Phys Ther. 2008 Nov 1;88(11):1254–64.

McMaughan DJ, Oloruntoba O, Smith ML. Socioeconomic Status and Access to Healthcare: Interrelated Drivers for Healthy Aging. Front Public Health. 2020 Jun 18;8.

Gupta S, McColl M, Guilcher S, Smith K. Managing Medication Cost Burden: A Qualitative Study Exploring Experiences of People with Disabilities in Canada. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Aug 23;16(17):3066.

Essue BM, Laba TL, Knaul F, Chu A, Minh H Van, Nguyen TKP, et al. Economic Burden of Chronic Ill Health and Injuries for Households in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. In: Disease Control Priorities, Third Edition (Volume 9): Improving Health and Reducing Poverty. The World Bank; 2017. p. 121–43.

Onoka CA, Hanson K, Hanefeld J. Towards universal coverage: a policy analysis of the development of the National Health Insurance Scheme in Nigeria. Health Policy Plan. 2015 Nov;30(9):1105–17.

Onwujekwe O, Hanson K, Uzochukwu B. Examining inequities in incidence of catastrophic health expenditures on different healthcare services and health facilities in Nigeria. PLoS One. 2012;7(7).

WHO. Evidence for action World Health Organization 2003 [Internet]. 2003. Available from: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/42682/9?sequence=1

Emmanuel O, Otovwe A. Patterns of adherence to management among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in South-South Region of Nigeria. Journal of Social Health and Diabetes. 2015 Dec 22;03(02):115–9.

Osborn CY, Kripalani S, Goggins KM, Wallston KA. Financial strain is associated with medication nonadherence and worse self-rated health among cardiovascular patients. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2017;28(1):499–513.

Araya EM, Gebrezgabiher HA, Tekulu GH, Alema NM, Getnet D, Gebru HT, et al.

Medication Non-Adherence and Associated Factors Among Diabetic Patients Visiting General Hospitals in the Eastern Zone of Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia

. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2020 Oct;Volume 14:2071–83.

Waari G, Mutai J, Gikunju J. Medication adherence and factors associated with poor adherence among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients on follow-up at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya. Pan African Medical Journal. 2018;29.

Adeloye D, Ige JO, Aderemi A V., Adeleye N, Amoo EO, Auta A, et al. Estimating the prevalence, hospitalisation and mortality from type 2 diabetes mellitus in Nigeria: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2017;7(5).

Aloke C, Egwu CO, Aja PM, Obasi NA, Chukwu J, Akumadu BO, et al. Current Advances in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus. Biomedicines. 2022 Sep 29;10(10):2436.

Sugandh F, Chandio M, Raveena F, Kumar L, Karishma F, Khuwaja S, et al. Advances in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus: A Focus on Personalized Medicine. Cureus. 2023 Aug 18;

Ryu S, Fan L. The Relationship Between Financial Worries and Psychological Distress Among U.S. Adults. J Fam Econ Issues. 2023 Mar 1;44(1):16–33.

Basiri R, Seidu B, Rudich M. Exploring the Interrelationships between Diabetes, Nutrition, Anxiety, and Depression: Implications for Treatment and Prevention Strategies. Nutrients. 2023 Sep 30;15(19):4226.

Ando M, Kawano M. Relationships among moral distress, sense of coherence, and job satisfaction. Nurs Ethics. 2018 Aug 16;25(5):571–9.

Fourie C. Who Is Experiencing What Kind of Moral Distress? Distinctions for Moving from a Narrow to a Broad Definition of Moral Distress. AMA J Ethics. 2017 Jun 1;19(6):578–84.

Hakim S, Chowdhury MAB, Ahmed NU, Uddin MJ. The availability of essential medicines for diabetes at health facilities in Bangladesh: evidence from 2014 and 2017 national surveys. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Dec 22;22(1):377.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Board on Health Care Services; Committee on Health Care Utilization and Adults with Disabilities. Health-Care Utilization as a Proxy in Disability Determination: 2. Factors That Affect Health-Care Utilization. Washington (DC): National Academies Press, 2018. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500097/

Iregbu S, Spiers J, Duggleby W, Salami B, Schick-Makaroff K. Nigerian Health Care Providers and Diabetes Self-Management Support: Their Perspectives and Practices. Qual Health Res. 2023 Jan 15;33(1–2):92–105.

Vijan S, Hayward RA, Langa KM. The Impact of Diabetes on Workforce Participation: Results from a National Household Sample. Health Serv Res. 2004 Dec 8;39(6p1):1653–70.

Lavaysse LM, Imrisek SD, Lee M, Osborn CY, Hirsch A, Hoy-Rosas J, et al. One Drop Improves Productivity for Workers With Type 2 Diabetes. J Occup Environ Med. 2022 Aug;64(8):e452–8.

Azevedo MJ. The State of Health System(s) in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities. In: African Histories and Modernities. 2017.

Miller S. Generic Drugs: A Treatment for High-Cost Health Care. Mo Med. 2020;117(1).




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21622/AMPDR.2024.04.2.934

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 Otovwe Agofure

Advances in Medical, Pharmaceutical and Dental Research
E-ISSN: 2812-4898
P-ISSN: 2812-488X 

Published by:

Academy Publishing Center (APC)
Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT)
Alexandria, Egypt
ampdr@aast.edu