By Daniel Edu
President Bola Tinubu is gearing up to sign executive orders aimed at lowering the prices of essential medicines in a move to alleviate the financial burden on Nigerians. The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Health, Tunji Alausa, and shared through a post on X by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday.
The decision to regulate pharmaceutical prices through executive orders is a strategic response to the escalating prices of pharmaceutical products, posing a growing concern for many Nigerians. Minister Alausa emphasized that these executive orders are expected to offer immediate relief to citizens, addressing the pressing need for affordable healthcare products in the country.
The Minister of Health, Ali Pate, highlighted the necessity of such measures following the withdrawal of major multinational pharmaceutical companies from the Nigerian market. This departure has worsened the challenge of accessing reasonably priced medicines, making government intervention crucial.
Alausa stated, “And these executive orders will get to the President’s table in the next few days. And that is the short-term solution to bringing down the cost of high pharmaceuticals and medical consumables that the citizens are experiencing currently.”
He also assured that the president is committed to swiftly resolving this issue and is actively working on medium and long-term solutions. Alausa encouraged Nigerians to be patient, assuring that the costs of pharmaceuticals will soon witness a significant decrease.
