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Healthcare Experts Urge FG to Make Blood Pressure Drugs Free Amid Rising Hypertension Burden

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 31st, 2026.

Medical professionals in Nigeria are calling on the Federal Government to make blood pressure medications free and widely accessible, warning that the high cost of treatment is worsening the country’s hypertension crisis.

Speaking during a medical outreach organised by Fluxbridge Healthcare Services in Adesan, Mowe, Ogun State, Olaide Albert, founder of the initiative, noted that many Nigerians cannot afford essential medications, which leads to poor disease control and heightened risk of complications. The outreach screened residents for blood pressure, blood sugar, malaria, and oral health. “From today’s screenings, we observed that high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and malaria are the most common conditions among residents,” Albert told our correspondent, who was present at the event (Punch Health).

Albert revealed that several residents had dangerously high blood pressure readings, some reaching 180 mmHg, which she described as a “time bomb waiting to explode.” She urged the government to consider providing hypertension drugs free of charge while encouraging individuals to prioritise regular health checks.

“The majority of Nigerians do not have access to affordable healthcare. If the government can make high blood pressure drugs accessible, it will significantly reduce the health burden on our communities,” she said.

Health support staff Olusoji Olatidoye added that the outreach targeted over 250 residents, providing medications and health education on disease management. Beneficiaries, including Oladokun Olawoye and Daniel Blessing, expressed gratitude, highlighting how such initiatives improve community health and enable individuals to contribute meaningfully to society (The Nation).

Experts emphasised that hypertension, which affects approximately one in three Nigerian adults, requires lifelong treatment, yet many patients are unable to maintain consistent medication due to costs. Professor Simeon Isezuo, President of the Nigerian Hypertension Society, warned that rising medicine prices could undermine efforts to curb cardiovascular-related deaths.

Isezuo called on healthcare providers to prioritise affordable and effective treatment options, encouraged support for local pharmaceutical production, and urged the government to expand universal health coverage. He also stressed the importance of family involvement in managing hypertension, advocating for regular monitoring, healthy diets, and physical activity at home (Vanguard News).

“Households should support members living with hypertension by helping them adhere to treatment, providing blood pressure monitors for routine checks, and encouraging healthy lifestyles,” Isezuo added.

With the cost of hypertension drugs climbing, experts say government intervention is critical to prevent Nigeria’s growing cardiovascular disease burden from spiraling further, especially among low-income households.