26th October 2022 5:32:16 PM
2 mins readMaintaining good health in Ghana has become increasingly expensive as commodity and service prices continue to rise.Since all sectors of the economy are interrelated, challenges in one sector can simultaneously affect the other.It has emerged that fuel hikes and cedi depreciation has had a negative effect on the cost of medicine at various pharmacies nationwide.
0
How so? Since majority of the medicine are imported into the country, pharmaceutical companies tend to purchase these drugs with huge sums of money following the rate of the depreciating cedi.As a result, some pharmaceutical companies have lamented about the price increment witnessed in less than a week.
1
Speaking to The Independent Ghana, the owner of a pharmacy at Dome decrying the economic situation, revealed that the prices of medication have more than doubled. Madam Florence revealed that the price of Forxiga, a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease has seen an astronomical hike in less than a week.
2
The medicine which was sold at GH470 on Friday, October 21 is currently selling at GH903 as of October 24, 2022.Galvus Met, a medication used to improve glycaemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes, which was sold at GH360 has increased to GH 528.For medicines suitable to manage epilepsy, Madam Florence stated that an individual needs not less thanGH100topurchaseepileptic drugs.
3
She noted for instance that a strip of Tegretol which was sold at GH11 is now selling at GH25. Medications used to treat high blood pressure, Lowering high blood pressure, stroke prevention, heart attacks, and kidney problems have more than tripled.Atacand which was sold at GH240 is currently selling at GH517. Norvasc 10 is also selling at GH168 per strip.
4
This means that a middle-class earner whose survival depends on this medication, may not be able to purchase these drugs due to the astronomical hikes in prices.The price increment has also affected condoms. A pack of condom, Durex, which previously sold at GH12 is now selling at GH23.The Pharmacist noted that the impending crisis is capable of affecting lives adding that the pharmaceutical industry is on the verge of collapsing.
5
In her local parlance, she said“ if things are not put in place, we won’t be able to sell medicines, our businesses are collapsing, this should not be a political talk, we need help.”An epileptic patient sharing his ordeal amidst the current economic hardship stated that in a week, he spends GH 70 on his medication.The astronomical hikes in prices of medicines, he says, will affect his ability to procure more drugs.
6
“Because I am a student, I sometimes find it difficult in finding money to buy my medication. If I don’t take my medication, I have an episode.”Source: The Independent Ghana
7
1 min read
1 min read
2 mins read
2 mins read
1 min read
1 min read
2 mins read
3 mins read
1 min read