hydroxychloroquine “Coronavirus cure” has become lucrative in Nigeria.

Nigeria Government's Consumer Protection body has reported on a serious increase in price of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine. There has been increased interest in hydroxychloroquine since the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The price of the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine has skyrocketed in Nigeria, according to the government's consumer protection body. https://t.co/eojYyinXnk

— The African Heralds (@AfricanHeralds) August 6, 2020

Circulating claims  from some medical experts that the anti-malaria drug can help in preventing and treating the coronavirus have led to the abrupt rise in quest for the drug.

US-based Nigerian Doctor, Dr.Stella Emmanuel says there is a cure for Coronavirus and that she has treated over 350 COVID-19 patients with no casualty. She also says hydroxychloroquine helps to prevent Coronavirus.

Nigeria's Guild of Medical Doctors has rebuked her claims. pic.twitter.com/I5oSBepQ84

— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) July 28, 2020

However, Wold Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigerian governement have positioned against such claims. WHO says the drug doesnt reduce death rates in patients with the virus.

Despite the lack of concrete evidence as to whether the malaria drug can treat a coronavirus patient or not, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commssion's audit of prices has pointed to a serious increase in the  drug's price over  the last four months. 

Nigerian Government reacts to viral hydroxychloroquine video Nigeria on Tuesday said it has not validated the use of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19, an obvious reaction to https://t.co/Wl7hIWMVeD

— DisNaija (@Dis_Naija) July 28, 2020