Despite assurances by the federal government that drug prices would ease under a new procurement framework, the reverse is playing out.

The cost of essential medicines has continued to climb, widening the gap between policy intent and reality for millions of Nigerians.

The challenge has forced many to resort to self-help either by blending local herbs or producing concoction from unorthodox means with its health implications severe.

In May 2025, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the establishment of MediPool, a group purchasing organisation aimed at crashing the prices of essential medicines and improving nationwide access to quality pharmaceuticals.

explaining the initiative, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, said MediPool would operate as a public-private partnership, leveraging the federal government’s bulk purchasing power to negotiate lower prices from manufacturers and suppliers, while ensuring a more stable supply of critical drugs across the country.

However, while the expected gains of the initiative are still being awaited, Nigerians, many already trapped in multidimensional poverty, are being confronted with near-daily increases in medicine prices.

In August 2025, Daily Sun reported that the prices of essential medicines rose by as much as 300 per cent, but instead of stabilising, costs have continued to escalate into January 2026, eroding household healthcare access even further.

Specifically, the cost of paracetamol, in most urban cities, has surged significantly, with a single sachet containing 10 to 12 tablets retailing for between N300 and N800, depending on brand and location.

Branded products have been hit particularly hard. Emzor Paracetamol is now selling for as much as N2,100 per blister pack in some outlets, while Panadol Extra retails for approximately N600 to N800 per sachet. For bulk buyers, generic 500mg paracetamol strips now cost between N4,500 and N9,250, up from far lower prices just months ago.

Blood sugar strip tests that used to be N500 last year are now N800 in many pharmacies in Nigeria.

Paracetamol is not alone in the wave of price increases sweeping through Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market. Amoxil (250mg) has risen from about N500 to between N700 per sachet. Original Chest and Lung tablets (MedeCify) now sell for N400, up from N300, while chewable Nature’s Field Vitamin-Cee (500mg) tablets have climbed to N10,850 from N9,250.

Also affected by the price surge are basic sexual and reproductive health products. A pack of Gold Circle or Fiesta condoms, which previously sold for about N400, now retails for N450, further highlighting the broad impact of inflation across essential health commodities.

In rural communities, the challenges are hydra-headed as lax regulations increase the risk of buying fake pharmaceuticals.

In all, the spike in medicine prices is heaping additional strain on households already grappling with soaring transport and housing costs, triggering widespread complaints among Nigerians, many of whom rely on various analgesics as a first-line treatment for fever, headaches and minor ailments.

Pharmacies have also lamented the high cost of renting shops, charges and taxes, power issues and other costs that have been built into the cost of medicines to stay afloat.

Daily Sun investigations reveal that consumers across both urban and rural communities are increasingly rationing medicines or abandoning purchases altogether due to cost pressures.

For low-income households, even basic drugs have effectively become luxury items, forcing some individuals to resort to unsafe self-medication practices, unregulated herbal remedies and traditional belief systems.

Chinonso Nnochiri, a generator technician, expressed frustration over what he described as mounting economic hardship. “The government has not been fair to us at all. Last week, my shop rent was increased, and now we are faced with higher medicine costs. Are we supposed to survive like this? It is a big shame that ordinary paracetamol, which used to cost N50 to N100 back in the day, is now about N500 per sachet,” he said.

Similarly, Jimoh Sofoluwe, a car mechanic, said the rising cost of antimalarial drugs had pushed him toward alternative treatment options. “I was feeling very weak this week and all the symptoms were pointing to malaria. I sent my sister to buy drugs, but she returned saying the money wasn’t enough. I had no choice but to use herbal medicine. Even that one had increased, but at least my money could cover it,” he explained.

Public health experts warn that such coping mechanisms could result in delayed treatment, drug misuse, antimicrobial resistance and worsening disease outcomes, particularly among vulnerable populations.

The widening affordability gap has also created fertile ground for counterfeit drug markets, with regulators reporting a rise in cloned and substandard pharmaceutical products entering the supply chain as desperate consumers seek cheaper alternatives.

Industry stakeholders attribute the surge in drug prices largely to Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported pharmaceutical inputs. Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), excipients and packaging materials are mostly sourced from foreign markets, exposing manufacturers to sharp exchange rate volatility.

The depreciation of the naira in early 2025 significantly inflated production costs, with pharmaceutical companies now paying substantially more for imported raw materials, logistics, energy and regulatory compliance. Inflationary pressures and persistently high energy costs have further compounded operational expenses for local drug manufacturers.

Supply chain disruptions and rising global shipping costs have also contributed to price instability, limiting the consistent availability of essential medicines nationwide.

Commenting on the development, Chief Executive Officer of Cowry Asset Management Limited, Johnson Chukwu, stressed the need to boost local production and macroeconomic stability.

“We must begin to incentivise local pharmaceutical manufacturing, improve foreign exchange access for drug producers and strengthen regulatory enforcement to curb counterfeit medicines. Once you are not producing, your economy will suffer.

“Improving Nigerians’ purchasing power through macroeconomic stability is also critical to addressing healthcare access challenges.” (The Sun)

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