‘Health Inequality Worsened by 300% Rise in Drug Price’

Omolabake Fasogbon

A non-profit organisation, Pistis Foundation, has decried the rising cost of orthodox drugs, which they said have aggravated health disparity gap in the country.

The foundation also found worrisome declining doctor to patient ratio that is presently about 1,000 percent below the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation.

The Founder and Board Chair of Pistis Foundation, Godman Akinlabi, reiterated the urgency to address health gap, citing risks on Nigeria’s most vulnerable population.

Speaking at a  five-day medical outreach tagged: ‘Ubomi’, in Lagos, Akinlabi worried that present situation posed a significant threat to the realisation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He explained the imperativeness of the initiative in the past five years to bridge health gap and address expanding health needs of underserved population.

The outreach, delivered in partnership with Pro- Health International and other outfits, had over 100 medical professionals attended to different health cases of  over 5,000 Nigerians at no cost.

It said: “We are committed to making every day count as we push forward to reach our goal of 5,000 beneficiaries. We have provided over 21,000 medical interventions and performed more than 700 surgeries since inception.  It’s a privilege to witness the positive transformation in the lives of those who would otherwise not have access to critical healthcare.”

Also commenting, Medical Personnel at Pro-Health International, Dr. Iko Ibanga, said: “Every person treated represents more than a statistic; they represent a story of hope and transformation. This year, we are performing surgeries for fibroids, hernias, cataracts, and other conditions that would have been otherwise unaffordable for these communities. It’s an honour to be part of an initiative that is restoring health and hope to so many.”

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