A pharmacist from Nigeria has issued a caution to medical staff in the country.
She claims that numerous hospitals in Nigeria are in the habit of taking medications out of their original packaging to prevent patients from knowing the names.
In a TikTok clip, she challenged private hospitals regarding this harmful practice.
In her own words:
‘’Is it wrong for patients to be aware of what they are ingesting? Hospitals that remove medications from their original boxes. Even when you do, you don’t even bother to label the drug. You simply hand them a medication in an envelope, with no identification…who are you shielding? Why are medicines treated like some classified information? You visit the hospital, settle the consultation fee, pay for the medications, and then they deliver the drugs to you in an envelope…No name, no hint…just directions on usage…once morning or night after meals.
What kind? Is it a pain reliever, an antibiotic? Please clarify! ’’
‘’So I should be kept uninformed as a patient? Should I remain oblivious to what I am consuming?’
She went on to highlight the detrimental impacts this conduct has on patients.
‘’Firstly, it robs patients of their rights to informed treatment. Secondly, it hinders individuals from understanding their own health. Thirdly, it opens doors for misuse, mistakes and even dependency. How will a patient know what to avoid in the future if they have a reaction to that medication you provided? How will they educate themselves about potential drug interactions if there are various prescriptions? Healthcare is not sorcery! It is scientific, and part of science entails transparency.
This method does not safeguard patients whatsoever. If you are providing a patient with medication, they deserve to know the drug’s name, its purpose, possible side effects, and the duration of usage…this is referred to as Patient empowerment, not medical gatekeeping. Stop playing hide and seek with the names of medications.’’