Nigeria, Nov. 15 -- Self-medication is the use of drugs to treat self-diagnosed disorders or symptoms, or the continued use of previously prescribed medicines without professional input, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

It may also involve the use of herbs, the re-use of old prescriptions, or the direct purchase of prescription-only drugs without medical supervision.

The practice, which is common globally in both developed and developing countries, has in some cases become more prevalent than the use of prescribed medication.

In Nigeria, self-medication has become deeply rooted, often driven by poor access to healthcare, high treatment costs, and the ease of obtaining drugs over the counter.

In this interview with PT ...