Some public health experts have said that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is placing a heavy financial strain on Nigeria’s healthcare system, expressing worry at its economic impact.
They said that the rising prevalence of resistant infections is not only affecting treatment outcomes but also increasing healthcare costs, which could jeopardise the country’s progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
In interviews on Thursday in Abuja, the experts said that AMR occurred when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites became resistant to drugs that were once effective in treating them.
According to them, as infections become harder to treat, the cost of healthcare increases, further burdening the healthcare system.
The Director of the National Veterinary Research Institute in Plateau State, Dr Sati Nguluku, said that AMR was resulting in the use of more expensive but less effective antibiotics.
“The cost of treating resistant infections is significantly higher.
“A patient who could have been treated with a simple antibiotic now requires more intensive treatments, which involve prolonged hospital stays and the use of intravenous medications.
“These additional costs are overwhelming to both families and the healthcare system,” Nguluku said.
The Head of Disease Prevention and Control, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Tochi Okwor said that a study conducted in 2022 by the centre showed that AMR contributed to over 250,000 excess hospital days each year, increasing healthcare expenditures by billions of naira.
“Furthermore, treating infections caused by resistant pathogens can be up to 10 times more expensive than treating non-resistant infections, the study revealed,” she said.
Okwor said that the economic burden of AMR extended beyond direct healthcare costs.
She added that the impact on productivity was a major concern.
“According to the World Bank, the global economic loss from AMR could reach 3.8 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2050, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the heaviest burden.
“In Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health reported that AMR-related productivity losses amount to an estimated ₦500 billion annually.
“Workers affected by resistant infections are unable to contribute to the economy, while caregivers are forced to spend extended periods away from their jobs to provide care,” she said.
The Director-General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris highlighted that AMR disproportionately impacted vulnerable populations in Nigeria, including children, the elderly and pregnant women, making it harder for them to access timely and affordable healthcare.
“As AMR continues to rise, the economic implications for families and the healthcare system will worsen,” Idris said.
He said that misuse of antibiotics in agriculture, particularly in the livestock industry, also contributed to the growing AMR burden.
According to him, excessive use of antibiotics in poultry farming is a major driver of resistance.
He added that counterfeit and substandard drugs had continued to flood the Nigerian market, exacerbating the problem.
The Deputy Director of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Dr Tunde Sigbeku urged that urgent actions should be taken to curb misuse of antibiotics and improve drug quality to avoid a situation where even the simplest infections could become untreatable.
“The economic losses from AMR, coupled with the societal impact of rising mortality rates, could be catastrophic,” Sigbeku, also an Antimicrobial Resistance-Human Health (AMR-HO) Focal Person, said.
In response to the growing threat of AMR, the Nigerian Government has implemented the National Action Plan on AMR (2024–2029) aimed at strengthening antimicrobial stewardship, improving surveillance and raising public awareness.
However, experts argue that enforcement of regulations and increased funding for AMR research were crucial.
The Director of Public Health at the Coordinating Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Godwin Ntadom stressed the need for stronger policy measures and collaborations across sectors.
“AMR is a national health emergency. We need to unite in the health, agriculture and pharmaceutical sectors to combat this threat effectively,” Ntadom said.
A Former Deputy Project Director of Risk Communication at Breakthrough ACTION Nigeria, Dr Olayinka Umar-Farouk called for urgent action to address the rising economic burden of AMR.
“The cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of intervention.
“We must prioritise AMR prevention to protect our health system and secure the future of Nigeria’s healthcare system.”
Umar-Farouk said that the economic impact of AMR on Nigeria’s healthcare system was undeniable,” she said.
She emphasised that urgent intervention was needed to reduce the spread of resistant infections, improve regulation, and ensure that Nigeria’s healthcare system would be resilient in the face of the growing threat.
She said that as Nigeria strove to achieve Universal Health Coverage, addressing AMR was not just a healthcare issue, but an economic imperative requiring an immediate and coordinated action from all sectors.
NAN
