Many Nigerians are finding it increasingly difficult to afford medication, with prices of essential medicines rising sharply in recent years. A strip of 10 paracetamol tablets that sold for N150 to N300 in 2024 now costs between N1,900 and N2,500. Other medicines, such as amoxicillin and malaria treatments, have also recorded substantial price increases. These rising costs are having a devastating impact on patients, particularly those living with chronic conditions.
The high cost of medicine is a significant burden for many Nigerian families, who are already struggling with rising costs of food, transportation, and rent. For patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma, treatment is not a one-off expense, but a recurring cost that can quickly become unaffordable. Ndidi Odiase, a Lagos resident, said caring for his diabetic mother had become financially draining, with medication costs consuming between N40,000 and N50,000 per month.
Nigeria's health financing structure leaves patients particularly exposed to rising medicine prices. Out-of-pocket spending accounted for 70.94 per cent of healthcare expenditure in 2023, substantially higher than the average for lower-middle-income countries. The World Health Organisation reports that out-of-pocket payments account for more than 75 per cent of total health expenditure in Nigeria, leaving many patients with little protection against financial shocks.
The situation is particularly difficult for patients with chronic illnesses, who may require medicines every month for years. A relatively small increase in the price of one drug can therefore become a substantial annual burden. When patients cannot afford medication, they may reduce doses, skip medication, or postpone refilling prescriptions, which can turn a manageable condition into a more serious and expensive health problem.
The pressure on patients is visible at pharmacies, where they increasingly ask for cheaper brands, smaller quantities, or alternative medicines. A September 2026 medicine price index showed a 546 per cent increase in the price of amoxicillin from July. Prices vary according to manufacturer, dosage, pack size, location, and distribution channel, but the trend is clear: medicines are becoming increasingly unaffordable for many Nigerians.
Nigeria's medicine market is vulnerable to movements in foreign exchange, import costs, energy prices, and other production and distribution costs. Even locally manufactured medicines are not completely insulated from foreign exchange pressures, as pharmaceutical production relies on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients and other inputs. Strengthening local production could help reduce dependence on imports and stabilise prices, but the Federal Government's efforts to reduce production costs have not yet translated into lower retail prices.
The rising cost of medicine is driving some patients to informal treatment practices, such as self-medication, herbal remedies, and online health advice. This can result in incorrect treatment, drug interactions, adverse reactions, and delayed diagnosis. The consequences of unaffordable medicine are far-reaching, and the Nigerian government and healthcare sector must work together to address the root causes of the problem and find solutions to make medicine more affordable for all.
Key points
- Patients with chronic conditions are disproportionately affected by rising medicine prices.
- Out-of-pocket spending accounts for over 70 per cent of healthcare expenditure in Nigeria.
- Strengthening local pharmaceutical production could help reduce dependence on imports and stabilise prices.
