Tchidi Chikere complains as the price of Chloroquine spikes to almost six times the usual cost after it was rumored to treat Coronavirus
Award-winning Nigerian movie director, producer, scriptwriter, and Nollywood actor Tchidi Chikere has revealed that he bought Chloroquine tablets at almost 6 times the usual price.
The hike in price comes after Donald Trump wrongly claimed that the FDA approved the drug for the treatment of coronavirus.
In a press briefing on Thursday, March 19, President Trump said that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine – drugs used to treat malaria and severe arthritis – were approved by the Food and Drug Administration to test as a COVID-19 coronavirus treatment.
However, the FDA made clear in a post-briefing statement that said “there are no FDA-approved therapeutics or drugs to treat, cure or prevent COVID-19.”
The FDA said in the statement that it is working with government and academic entities that are investigating whether chloroquine can be used “to treat patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 to potentially reduce the duration of symptoms, as well as viral shedding, which can help prevent the spread of disease.”
Trump’s statement was far-reaching and so was the effects, as people, including Nigerians, are now rushing to buy the malaria drug, and this has led to a hike in price.
Tchidi Tchikere said he bought a small pack of Chloroquine, which used to be 700 Naira, for 4,000 Naira.
He wrote: “JUST BOUGHT CHLOROQUINE NOW FOR 4,000 NAIRA PER SMALL PACK. USED TO BE 700 NAIRA PER PACK..NAIJA! EXPLOITATION.”
