… Fertility, cancer care top demand
Ruth Iwuoha returned to Nigeria from the United States in January 2024 to seek medical attention for her fertility case.
She had spent about $13,000 treating the condition in the US but to no avail.
Back in Nigeria, she sought the attention of a reproductive endocrinologist at a private hospital in Lekki, Lagos.
“I spent just less than N8 million on that case in Nigeria, which was just a little above $5,000. Back in the US, I had spent $13,000 and the entire treatment would have cost double of that,” she said.
“And, miraculously, I am pregnant today.”
A combination of naira fall and long wait for medical appointments abroad is driving a surprising trend in Nigeria’s healthcare sector: a growing foreign demand.
As the naira weakens against major currencies, medical procedures and services in Nigeria have become significantly cheaper for patients from not just neighbouring West African countries but also America and Europe.
Similarly, lengthy wait times and limited access to specialised care in those countries are also pushing patients across borders in search of quicker, cost-effective treatment.
This surge in cross-border medical tourism, especially for fertility treatment, cancer care and cosmetic surgery, is reshaping the Nigerian healthcare landscape, with specialised clinics and private hospitals—especially in cities like Lagos and Abuja, expanding services and adjusting pricing models to cater to international patients.
Some of the hospitals and clinics attracting foreign patients with their services are: Reddington Hospital, The Medison Hospital, First Consultant Hospital, Lagoon Hospital, St. Ives, Gold Cross Hospital, St. Nicholas Hospital, Primus Super Speciality Hospital, and Evercare Hospital – all in Lagos.
Others are: Queens Specialist Hospital, Kelina Hospital, Care Fertility Hosipital, Alliance Hospital, Mayfield Hospital – all in Abuja- among others.
“The minimum cost for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in Europe or America is $15,000. I had a patient who flew in and spent $6,000, including for flights and was left with $9,000. So she was happy to save more and get the results because we have comparatively high success rate,” said John Ene, a medical director at Care fertility Hospital, Abuja, told BusinessDay.
He said he has observed more foreign patients coming especially for fertility treatment in Nigeria due to the lower costs and comparatively high success rates of IVF cases.
In the UK, a single IVF cycle can cost between £5,000 and £8,000, while in the US, its cost ranges between $14,000 and $20,000. In Canada, it’s typically between $10,000 to $15,000 CAD, according to data from fertility clinics abroad.
Cancer treatment
Bartholomew Ufoegbunam, medical director of Grace Valley Medical Center, disclosed that foreign patients fly into access cancer care treatment in Nigeria.
He said private facilities with Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP), a minimally invasive surgical procedure for prostate cancer treatment, are attracting foreign patients.
He added that some private healthcare facilities are considering investing in this technology to meet the growing demand.
According to the doctor, it costs up to N15 million for treatment, but the cost is insignificant for foreigners who are earning stronger currencies.
“Foreigners, mostly from America and Europe, come for the services because of the reduced cost in Nigeria. The expertise is also not largely available in several other countries,” he added.
Long waiting time
The 2025 World Population Review data show that Canada has the longest wait time, particularly for elective surgeries and specialist consultations at 33 percent. It is followed by the United States at 28 percent; Sweden, 24 percent; Norway, 22 percent; and the United Kingdom, 21 percent.
Speaking with BusinessDay, Chinedu Moghalu, special assistant to the minister of health, acknowledged that cosmetics surgery, cancer care, cardiology, kidney care/ transplant, especially in private care facilities, attract foreign patronage.
He also noted that many of these private healthcare facilities are owned by Nigerian medical professionals who have migrated abroad but often refer patients to their clinics in Nigeria.
“Patients in the UK, the US and other parts of Europe would be on the waitlist for up to six months to get simple things done, but in Nigeria, services are delivered far more efficiently and they are far cheaper. A lot of women fly in to have their cosmetic surgeries done here. Cardiac centres are well patronised as well. Private health facilities providing cancer care in cities like Lagos have many non-Nigerian patients,” he said.
“A lot of Nigerian doctors in the UK maintain clinics here. They fly in here to work with Nigerian doctors. Nigerian doctors are remarkable in the UK and other countries and they still collaborate with their colleagues there, prompting them to come back,” he added.
Sharing their experiences, a lady who identified herself as Ennessy and resides in Canada, said she travelled to Nigeria for a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) because the results she had seen from Nigerian cosmetic surgeons were superior.
“They do BBL in Canada, but I don’t like the results. I chose Nigeria because I have seen so many successful procedures here,” she said.
Olumide Adeshakin, a Nigerian living in Canada, shared his experience with long waiting times. “In Winnipeg, Manitoba, you’ll wait six months just for an ultrasound. My uncle has been on the waiting list for a procedure to treat his haemorrhoids for over a year. Another colleague’s mother, who needs fibroid surgery, has had her appointment postponed for over a year and a half. People spend up to 18 to 24 hours in urgent care,” he said.
Greg Okonkwo, a UK resident, said he also travelled to Nigeria for medical treatment.
“The queue for NHS services in the UK is too long. We wait months or even years just to see a consultant. In Nigeria, you can see any consultant immediately as long as you can afford their fee,” he said.
FG confirms attraction
Muhammad Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, had earlier disclosed that Nigeria’s health sector has greatly improved so much that it is now attracting patients, not just from the West African sub-region but also from countries as far as the United States and the United Kingdom.
However, findings suggest that cost, long waiting lists, and access to quicker medical services, rather than solely improved healthcare, are the primary factors driving foreigners to Nigeria.
Naira depreciation
Naira has lost over 60 percent value since 2023 when foreign exchange floating began. The naira closed at 1,584.49/$ on Wednesday as against 419/$ in May 2022. Though this has hit citizens and residents hard, it provides an opportunity for medicare seekers, including investors seeking cheap assets.
General healthcare must be improved
Despite the opportunity, healthcare services at several Nigerian public hospitals may be affordable to citizens, but they leave much to be desired.
Adaobi Onyechi, a public health expert, urged the federal government to deepen partnerships with private healthcare facilities by creating a more favourable economic environment to support their growth.
She emphasised that Nigeria has a unique opportunity to capitalise on the increasing demand for its healthcare services, which could significantly boost the economy and strengthen the naira. (BusinessDay)
