…Quacks having field day on social media – Expert
…Celebrities, influencers often mislead followers – Dr. Ubani
‘…Stories of Nigerians slumping, dying commonplace due to self-medication’
As the cost of living skyrockets, the prices of essential medications, laboratory tests, and other health services have surged, making access to treatment a luxury for many. Consequently, the less privileged Nigerians have turned to social media for prescription; BENJAMIN SAMSON reports.
No doubt, the advent of social media has numerous positive benefits, including improved communication, access to a wealth of information, opportunities for business and marketing, and a platform for social change among others. However, the lack of regulation has thrown up a lot of challenges, one of which is health prescriptions by quacks.
Celebrities
Speaking with this reporter, a medical doctor, Chinwe Ubani, said
celebrities and social media influencers often share their experiences with certain medications or treatments, which can influence their followers to try them.
She said, “Social media encourages self-medication primarily by providing readily accessible, often unverified medical information and showcasing seemingly effective treatments, leading individuals to believe they can manage their health independently.
“Social media platforms offer a vast amount of health information, including articles, videos, and personal stories related to various ailments and treatments. This ease of access can lead individuals to quickly search for solutions to their health problems without consulting a medical professional.
“The information shared on social media can be unreliable or misinterpreted, leading to inappropriate medication choices or even the use of potentially harmful remedies. For example, a digital influencer might share their personal experience with a certain medication without mentioning potential side effects or contraindications. The abundance of online information and the ease of finding ‘treatments’ can create a false sense of self-sufficiency, making individuals feel they don’t need to seek professional medical advice. This can lead to delayed or missed diagnoses and inappropriate self-treatment.
“Celebrities and social media influencers often share their experiences with certain medications or treatments, which can influence or mislead their followers to try them as well, even without a proper diagnosis or prescription. This can be particularly problematic when these individuals endorse treatments that lack scientific evidence or are not appropriate for the general public.”
Likewise, a Pharmacist at Adline consults, Kefas Ma’aji, said, “For their inability to afford medication charges, many Nigerians now visit social media to access prescriptions for certain illnesses. Many go for tests, collect results and come online to seek a cure for the diagnosed ailment.
“Various people with different brand names are seen discussing and prescribing solutions to ailments, especially for women dealing with infertility issues.
“Further investigations showed that most of the social media content-based treatments are combinations of household spices, herbs, roots, among others.
“Social media can also be used to provide emotional support and create online communities for individuals with specific health conditions. While this can be beneficial, it can also lead to the sharing of misinformation or the normalisation of self-medication practices.
“Its ease of access to information, coupled with the potential for misinformation and a false sense of self-sufficiency, can significantly contribute to the practice of self-medication. This can have serious health consequences, and it’s crucial for individuals to be aware of the potential risks and to seek professional medical advice when needed.”
Quackery
A public health physician, Dr. Funke Abdulganiyu, in his view said the high cost of medical care has given rise to quacks on social media who give wrong prescriptions.
She said: “Quacks are having a field day as the social media are awash with the marketing of all manner of medications, including those that are not registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). These ‘social media professionals’ falsely claim they have affordable alternatives to conventional medical care.
“The devaluation of the Naira has apparently caused the prices of drugs, diagnostic kits, and medical consumables to increase by several hundred percent in the past year. For example, a popular antibiotic that sold for under N4, 000 now costs over N50, 000.
“Medical tests like urinary analysis in public lab facilities now go for N2, 000 to N6, 000, while fasting cholesterol tests cost N16, 000 in private hospitals, etc. The cost of cesarean session, which used to be around N50, 000 in public hospitals, has gone up to N250, 000 and N300, 000. In private hospitals, it now goes for over N500, 000 depending on the facility.
“Surgeries are not spared. The cost, depending on the type of surgery, has risen due to the high cost of consumables like gloves, drips and operational costs. If the situation continues, more women may die during childbirth while infant mortality rate will rise. The situation in hospitals has worsened, coupled with the hike in electricity tariff. Operational costs are forcing private hospitals, battered by low patronage, out of business as Nigerians prioritise food over health.”
Cost
Speaking on why people resort to self-medication using social media, Mr. Jeremiah Kaura, a laboratory scientist at a Primary Health Care centre in Karu local government area of Nasarawa state, noted that many avoid hospitals due to the high cost of medical care, opting instead for cheaper, over-the-counter drugs or advice from social media.
He said, “Seeing a doctor, doing tests, and buying prescribed medicines costs a lot; so people look for cheaper options like over-the-counter drugs or advice from untrained chemists on social media.
“Although the cost of medical consultations in Nigeria varies significantly between private and government hospitals, it is also influenced by factors such as hospital location, the specialist’s expertise, and the facility’s reputation. Consultation fees in government hospitals are generally more affordable. For example, the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi, Nasarawa state, lists consultation and utility fees at ₦500 for the General Outpatient Clinic (GOPC) and ₦100 for all specialty clinics.
“These rates make government hospitals more accessible to the general public, particularly for routine consultations. However, additional costs, such as for admission, diagnostic tests, and medications can add up. Bed space fees in some government hospitals have increased, ranging from ₦25,000 to ₦40,000 per admission, depending on the ward and services required.”
Continuing, he said, “Meanwhile, these consultation fees often exclude additional expenses like laboratory tests, medications, and hospital stays, which can further increase the overall cost of health care. For instance, in some government hospitals, upfront payments range from ₦15,000 to ₦50,000 in the children’s ward and at least ₦100,000 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). These costs can be substantial, especially for individuals without health insurance coverage, potentially leading them to seek alternative, less expensive healthcare options on social media.
“Private hospitals in Abuja and other urban centers typically charge much higher fees for consultations and treatments. Depending on the facility and the doctor’s expertise, consultation fees can range from ₦5,000 to ₦15,000 for general consultations and ₦20,000 to ₦50,000 for specialist consultations.
“In addition to consultation fees, private hospitals charge significantly higher amounts for admission, laboratory tests, surgeries, and critical care services. Many Nigerians unable to afford these costs with the help of social media turn to over-the-counter medications or traditional remedies, further fueling the issue of self-medication.”
Also, a retired consultant at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Ahmad Salisu, lamented the lack of affordable medical care for poor Nigerians.
“Even before now, the story of health care in Nigeria has remained a stark contrast between the privileged and the marginalised. For those who can afford it, world-class medical facilities and treatments are a mere taxi ride away.
“Sadly, the current situation has further worsened the plight of the majority of Nigerians, navigating the complex and often exorbitant healthcare system has become worse than a daily struggle. The costs of basic medical care beginning from obtaining a hospital card and consultations, getting routine tests such as malaria, urine tests, consumables and drugs have gone up even 10 times higher in some instances, leaving sick Nigerians stranded,” he said.
Furthermore, he said, “The rising costs in health care generally have particularly impacted vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, children, and those with chronic illnesses. Many families are forced to choose between food and medicine, while others are resorting to traditional healers or self-medication. The stories of Nigerians slumping and dying have become commonplace partly due to self-medication with the aid of social media.
“Also, the prices of all routine drugs in Nigeria have gone up. And branded and unbranded antibiotics, analgesics, anti-malarial, and specialised drugs are not spared. Some of the malaria drugs now cost as high as N3, 500 to N7, 000 depending on the area of purchase. About one year ago, the cost was below N1, 000 for malaria tests, which costs used to be in the neighbourhood of N1, 000 to N1, 500, have risen to between N4, 000 and N5, 000 depending on the facility and where it is located.”
Users
Similarly, Mrs. Grace Ike, a fashion designer, said accessing health care in public hospitals has now become so expensive, let alone privately owned ones. For her, that is enough reason to use social media prescriptions.
She said, “I apply most of the health prescriptions on social media, and they are working for me. All I do is go to the laboratory to do a test and get the result, post it on any health platform on social media and whatever is prescribed, I use.
“Most of the prescriptions are those we use in our homes, and herbs found in our environment. Getting a consultation in some private hospitals now costs as much as N20, 000 and above.
“Then you pay for a card, which ranges from N5, 000 to N10, 000, depending on the hospital, and then the diagnosis and treatment proper.
“And in this economy where things are hard, where do I get such an amount? Even in some public hospitals, you pay up to N1, 500 for a card, then you are asked to pay another amount each time you want to see the doctor, or you are being referred to another specialist doctor.”
Need for regulation
Kaura called for the regulation of social media platforms to curb the activities of non-professionals who are misleading and taking advantage of vulnerable Nigerians.
He said, “Social media platforms often lack strict regulations or oversight regarding the dissemination of health-related information. This means that anyone can share information, regardless of their expertise or qualifications, leading to a lack of accountability and potential harm to users. I suggest there should be some form of regulation of social media to curb the activities of quacks.
“A major enabler of self-medication whether online or offline in Nigeria is the unregulated sale of prescription drugs. Many chemists operate without proper training, selling drugs based on guesswork rather than medical knowledge. These sellers often recommend medications based on symptoms alone, without conducting proper diagnosis or tests.
“Unchecked sale of powerful drugs puts millions at risk of serious health complications. Without proper regulation, self-medication will continue to endanger lives.
“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) need to crack down on illegal drug vendors and ensure that only licensed professionals can sell prescription drugs.”
Way out
On how to curb the trend, Dr. Salisu urged Nigerians to seek medical attention early instead of waiting until their condition worsens.
“People should see a doctor at the first sign of illness rather than resorting to self-medication. Hospitals and health workers also have a role to play in educating patients on the proper use of medications,” he said.
He also called on the government to make health care more affordable and accessible.
According to him, expanding the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and establishing more public health centres would help ease the financial burden on Nigerians, reducing their dependence on social media.