The Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) has urged the Federal Government to subsidise diabetes medicines and medical supplies as the country joins the rest of the world to mark World Diabetes Day on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026.
The association says an estimated 11.4 million Nigerians are living with diabetes, many of whom remain undiagnosed or cannot afford regular treatment.
In an open letter to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, DAN National President, Prof. Ejiofor Ugwu, says the rising cost of diabetes care is putting millions of patients at risk.
Ugwu says the prices of medicines and essential medical supplies have increased by more than 500% in the past five years, pushing monthly treatment costs to between ₦200,000 and ₦300,000.
He says the situation has made consistent treatment unaffordable for many patients, with only about one-third of diagnosed people receiving appropriate care and just a third of those achieving good blood sugar control.
The association also warns that late diagnosis and poor access to treatment are contributing to serious complications, including blindness, kidney failure, stroke, heart disease and limb amputations.
DAN is calling for a national diabetes policy, subsidies on insulin and other medicines, tax waivers on imported medical supplies and wider health insurance coverage for diabetes care.
It also wants the government to strengthen primary health care services, establish a national diabetes registry and revive the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, with proceeds directed towards preventing noncommunicable diseases.
Ugwu says the association had raised concerns about the state of diabetes care a year ago, but the situation had worsened for many patients.
He appeals to the government to move beyond public statements and take urgent steps to make treatment accessible and affordable.
“Let this not be another year of speeches while our members die quietly,” he says.
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