Nigeria is facing renewed scrutiny over its healthcare system after foreign exchange (FX) outflows for medical travel abroad surged to $549.29 million in the first nine months of 2025, marking a 17.96 percent increase from $465.67 million recorded during the same period in 2024, according to data reported by The PUNCH.
Analysts and healthcare professionals say the rising spending reflects persistent structural weaknesses in the country’s medical sector, despite repeated government promises to strengthen local capacity and reduce dependence on overseas treatment.
Figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria show steady quarterly growth in medical-related travel expenses. Nigerians spent $151.53 million in Q1 2025, $189.41 million in Q2, and $208.35 million in Q3, bringing the nine-month total to $549.29 million. In comparison, the same quarters in 2024 recorded $142.95 million, $153.67 million, and $169.04 million respectively.
The FX allowance tracked by the apex bank represents funds individuals obtain for overseas treatment. However, the bank does not monitor how the money is ultimately spent.
Rising Demand for Overseas Care
Health experts attribute the increase to declining public confidence in local medical services, particularly for complex procedures such as cardiovascular interventions and specialised treatments.
Public attention intensified after author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie alleged medical negligence following the death of her 21-month-old son in a Lagos hospital while preparing to seek treatment in the United States.
Despite official assurances that medical tourism would decline, recent figures suggest limited progress. In August 2023, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Pate pledged reforms aimed at strengthening health security and reducing outbound treatment. By April 2025, he said the country loses roughly $2 billion annually to medical tourism but also pointed to signs of improvement, noting that patients from countries including the United Kingdom were beginning to seek treatment in Nigeria.
Experts Cite Strikes, Corruption, Equipment Gaps
Former president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Olumide Akintayo, argued that the latest data reflects worsening conditions in local facilities. He pointed to inefficiencies, corruption, and prolonged industrial actions, including what he described as the longest health-sector strike in Nigeria’s history, lasting 84 days.
“When even a ward mate or ambulance driver goes on strike, you destroy the entire value chain,” he said, noting disruptions to surgeries, drug procurement, laboratory diagnostics, and radiology services.
Akintayo also referenced findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, which previously listed health-sector ministries, departments, and agencies among the most corrupt public institutions. According to him, mismanagement of drug supply systems and persistent shortages of essential medicines from cardiovascular and anti-diabetic drugs to antibiotics and cancer treatments continue to push patients abroad.
Funding Shortfalls and Policy Limitations
President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Bala Audu, said most Nigerians seeking FX for overseas care are likely battling chronic or advanced diseases such as late-stage cancers. He added that the absence of detailed data on treatment categories limits the government’s ability to craft targeted solutions.
Audu stressed that Nigerian doctors are globally competitive but often lack the equipment and reagents required for advanced care. In some cases, he said, diagnostic tests must be sent overseas because local laboratories lack necessary resources.
He linked these constraints to poor funding, noting that out of a ₦218 billion capital allocation for health in 2025, only ₦36 million had reportedly been released. “The quality of healthcare we get is reflective of the quality of what we put in,” he said.
Former NMA president Mike Ogirima warned that medical tourism is also straining national reserves. He said the continued outflow of FX could weaken the country’s ability to conduct international transactions, especially as foreign reserves decline.
Ogirima cited underfunded hospitals, inadequate equipment, and limited life-support infrastructure as key drivers, adding that affluent Nigerians often seek treatment abroad because foreign facilities are better equipped. He also pointed to the broader “Japa” migration trend as a factor accelerating outbound medical travel.
Outlook
With FX outflows climbing and healthcare infrastructure challenges persisting, analysts say Nigeria faces mounting pressure to translate reform pledges into measurable improvements. Without substantial investment in equipment, personnel retention, and governance, experts warn that the country’s reliance on overseas treatment may continue to rise.
