“Exploitation” Tchidi Tchikere complains as the price of Chloroquine spikes to almost six times the usual cost after it was rumoured to treat coronavirus

Tchidi Tchikere has revealed that he bought Chloroquine tablets at almost 6 times the usual price.

The hike in price comes after Donald Trump wrongly claimed that the FDA approved the drug for the treatment of coronavirus.

In a press briefing on Thursday, March 19, President Trump said that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine – drugs used to treat malaria and severe arthritis – were approved by the Food and Drug Administration to test as a COVID-19 coronavirus treatment.

However, the FDA made clear in a post-briefing statement that said “there are no FDA-approved therapeutics or drugs to treat, cure or prevent COVID-19.”

The FDA said in the statement that it is working with government and academic entities that are investigating whether chloroquine can be used “to treat patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 to potentially reduce the duration of symptoms, as well as viral shedding, which can help prevent the spread of disease.”

Trump’s statement was far-reaching and so was the effects, as people, including Nigerians, are now rushing to buy the malaria drug, and this has led to a hike in price.

Tchidi Tchikere said he bought a small pack of Chloroquine, which used to be 700 Naira, for 4,000 Naira.

He wrote: “JUST BOUGHT CHLOROQUINE NOW FOR 4,000 NAIRA PER SMALL PACK. USED TO BE 700 NAIRA PER PACK..NAIJA! EXPLOITATION.”