In Nigeria, the primary health care system is under immense strain. There is a shortage of doctors, as many opt to emigrate overseas, leaving the doctor-to-patient ratio in Africa’s most populous country at one per 9,083 patients.
For most Nigerians, the reality is harsh: paying out-of-pocket for medical care is often a luxury they can’t afford. In a nation where 40% of people live below the poverty line, choosing between food and medical treatment is an everyday dilemma.
Against this backdrop, proprietary medicine vendors, or PPMVs, are some people’s only access to health care. While they are not pharmacists, these community-based providers receive basic training and are authorized by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria to sell a select number of over-the-counter medications.
"They’re like the neighborhood 'mom-and-pop' stores of health care," explained Iyadunni Olubode, lead of Nigeria and Kenya programs at MSD for Mothers.
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