Snakebite Can Cost ₦250,000 Per Shot: Gombe Hospital Warns Anti-Venom Is Rare and Out of Reach

 Anti-snake venom, the life-saving drug used to treat snakebite victims, has become dangerously scarce in Nigeria, with a single vial now costing as much as ₦250,000, according to the Medical Director of the Snakebite Hospital and Research Centre in Kaltungo, Gombe State, Dr Nicholas Amani.

Dr Amani disclosed this in an interview with Punch while reacting to the recent death of Abuja-based aspiring singer Ifunanya Nwangene, who reportedly died after being bitten by a snake in her apartment.

Speaking on the growing crisis surrounding snakebite management in Nigeria and globally, Amani said the scarcity of anti-snake venom is not limited to the country but is a worldwide problem.

“The truth is that anti-snake venom is a scarce commodity all around the world. Snakebite mainly affects the less privileged — farmers and rural dwellers — people who do not really have a voice,” he said.

According to him, the issue of scarcity dominates discussions at international medical conferences, with no free supplies readily available.

“Everywhere we attend conferences and international meetings, it is the same issue — scarcity, scarcity. Ultimately, there are no free anti-snake venoms available. Most of them are now being sold by pharmacy vendors,” Amani explained.

Specialised Hospitals Also Running Dry

The medical director further revealed that even hospitals specifically designed to handle snakebite cases are currently struggling to access the drug.

“I want to make it very clear that even in specialised hospitals, we do not actually have anti-snake venom in our facilities currently. Efforts are being made by the government to make provision because this has now resurfaced as a major health challenge, but the process is still in the pipeline,” he said.

Using Kaltungo as an example, Amani noted that patients are often forced to rely on private suppliers to obtain the medication.

“Even in Kaltungo, what you find is that it is pharmacists and business people in town who are supplying the anti-venom. Patients have to go and buy from them. So the issue of scarcity is real,” he added.

Poor Patients, Crushing Costs

On the cost burden, Amani said treating a single patient could require multiple vials, pushing expenses far beyond the reach of most victims.

“Currently, a vial of anti-snake venom costs about ₦250,000. Some patients require two or three vials. The people who come with snake bites are very poor. They sell their farmlands and belongings just to buy one vial. Imagine when two or three vials are needed,” he lamented.

The revelation has renewed concerns about access to emergency healthcare in Nigeria, particularly for rural communities, as experts warn that delays in treatment or inability to afford anti-venom often turn survivable snakebites into fatal cases.

SOURCE : NaijaRush Assignment Desk