GSK’s exit from Nigeria has had a profound impact on the healthcare sector, leading to a surge in prices and a scarcity of essential medicines, especially for asthma patients.
While asthma cannot be cured, access to treatments like inhalers is crucial for patients to lead normal, active lives. Unfortunately, the departure of GSK and other international pharmaceutical companies has worsened the situation.
According to the World Health Organisation, proper healthcare access is vital for people with asthma. However, in developing countries like Nigeria, this becomes a complex issue. As of 2019, there were already 15 million Nigerians suffering from asthma, with a nationwide study estimating the number at 13 million. With GSK’s departure, access to quality healthcare services is limited, leading to a delayed diagnosis of asthma.
Consequently, for a significant number of the affected, asthma management is poor due to inadequate treatment. This has only exacerbated the condition and increased the number of patients struggling with this respiratory illness.
The departure of GSK is just one example of the challenges faced by Nigeria’s industrial sector. Apart from GSK, many foreign companies have either left or made significant changes due to operational difficulties. London-based Diageo Plc, for instance, sold its controlling stake in Guinness Nigeria Plc, while Microsoft Corp. closed its Africa Development Centre engineering section in Nigeria.
Even oil majors like Shell Plc, Exxon Mobil, and Eni SpA have sold their onshore operations to local companies. This leaves behind a sense of uncertainty in an industry that forms the backbone of Nigeria’s exports.
Unfortunately, this exodus has resulted in decades of environmental devastation and a dent in confidence within the sector.
