Canadian Pharmacist Sees Nigeria's Drug Poverty Echoes

A pharmacist practicing in Calgary, Canada, has observed a disturbing parallel between her experiences in Nigeria and her current reality. She has witnessed patients at her pharmacy struggling to afford vital medications, including a mother who could not pay for her child's asthma inhaler and lacked sufficient cash or credit. This situation is reminiscent of her past practice in Nigeria, where lack of access to affordable life-saving medication led to bankruptcy and death for some.

While studying at Oxford University in 2012, the pharmacist learned about the inverse care law, a concept she initially believed applied mainly to less developed countries. She had moved to Canada in 2020, drawn by its reputation for universal healthcare, and was initially impressed by her own access to prenatal care without cost. However, she soon realized that prescription medications outside of hospital settings are often not covered.

One in five Canadians reportedly lack drug insurance, a reality the pharmacist herself has experienced. After her child was born, she faced the cost of nausea medication, opting to endure symptoms rather than burden her husband. She also received samples of iron pills due to low levels. Currently, on nearly every shift, she finds herself substituting, adapting, de-prescribing, or troubleshooting insurance claims to help patients access necessary medicines, a role that mirrors her work in Nigeria.