Nigeria's medical costs are rising due to a complex interplay of economic and healthcare factors, says WTW, a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company.
In its Global Medical Trends Survey report, WTW says that, in Nigeria, it is anticipating a higher medical trend rate (40%) than what insurers are projecting (31.8%). General inflation, coupled with the depreciation of the Nigerian naira, has significantly increased the costs of imported medical supplies and pharmaceuticals.
Respiratory infections and noncommunicable diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, have also become increasingly prevalent. Hypertension affects an estimated 28% to 46% of Nigerian adults, placing additional strain on the healthcare systems. Additionally, the emigration of healthcare professionals, with an estimated 2,000 doctors leaving Nigeria annually, exacerbates staffing shortages and drives up labour costs.
In the past two years, Nigeria has witnessed a marked increase in the prevalence of breast, colon and prostate cancer. Much of this can be attributed to early detection, thanks to an increase in the adoption of preventive wellness initiatives such as annual health checks.
The following table shows the medical cost trends in several countries in Africa, including Nigeria:
Medical cost trends (%)
|
Market
|
Gross increase
|
Net of general inflation
|
Inflation rate (IMF World Economic Outlook)
|
|
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025#
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025#
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025#
|
|
Algeria
|
6.0
|
8.0
|
6.0
|
-3.3
|
0.4
|
-0.4
|
9.3
|
7.6
|
6.4
|
|
Angola
|
17.8
|
23.4
|
25.0
|
4.2
|
1.4
|
12.2
|
13.6
|
22.0
|
12.8
|
|
Benin*
|
12.0
|
10.0
|
10.0
|
9.2
|
7.0
|
8.0
|
2.8
|
3.0
|
2.0
|
|
Congo (DRC)*
|
5.0
|
6.0
|
10.0
|
-14.9
|
-11.2
|
1.5
|
19.9
|
17.2
|
8.5
|
|
Cote d’Ivoire
|
21.0
|
10.0
|
10.0
|
16.6
|
6.2
|
7.0
|
4.4
|
3.8
|
3.0
|
|
Egypt**
|
25.8
|
31.9
|
31.0
|
1.4
|
-0.6
|
5.3
|
24.4
|
32.5
|
25.7
|
|
Ethiopia
|
12.0
|
10.0
|
10.0
|
-18.2
|
-15.6
|
-8.2
|
30.2
|
25.6
|
18.2
|
|
Gabon*
|
5.0
|
4.0
|
6.0
|
1.4
|
1.9
|
3.8
|
3.6
|
2.1
|
2.2
|
|
Ghana*
|
25.0
|
23.0
|
-
|
-12.5
|
0.7
|
0.0
|
37.5
|
22.3
|
11.5
|
|
Guinea*
|
3.0
|
5.0
|
10.0
|
-4.8
|
-6.0
|
-0.2
|
7.8
|
11.0
|
10.2
|
|
Kenya
|
5.0
|
-
|
-
|
-2.7
|
-
|
-
|
7.7
|
6.6
|
5.5
|
|
Liberia
|
3.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
-7.1
|
-1.3
|
-0.1
|
10.1
|
6.3
|
5.1
|
|
Madagascar**
|
8.3
|
8.5
|
7.1
|
-1.6
|
0.7
|
-0.2
|
9.9
|
7.8
|
7.3
|
|
Mali*
|
45.0
|
20.0
|
30.0
|
42.9
|
19.0
|
28.0
|
2.1
|
1.0
|
2.0
|
|
Mauritania*
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
5.0
|
-4.9
|
-2.8
|
1.0
|
4.9
|
2.8
|
4.0
|
|
Mozambique*
|
13.0
|
11.0
|
8.5
|
6.9
|
6.6
|
3.0
|
6.1
|
4.4
|
2.4
|
|
Nigeria*
|
11.2
|
17.4
|
31.8
|
-13.5
|
-8.9
|
8.8
|
24.7
|
26.3
|
23.0
|
|
Sierra Leone*
|
8.0
|
8.0
|
9.0
|
-39.7
|
-31.1
|
-12.7
|
47.7
|
39.1
|
21.7
|
|
South Africa**
|
8.4
|
8.4
|
8.5
|
2.5
|
3.6
|
4.0
|
5.9
|
4.9
|
4.5
|
|
Uganda
|
16.5
|
25.0
|
30.0
|
11.1
|
21.2
|
25.1
|
5.4
|
3.8
|
4.9
|
|
Zimbabwe
|
9.5
|
5.0
|
8.0
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
# projected
* trend was provided by WTW brokers
**trend was provided by both insurers and WTW brokers
|
|
Source: WTW Global Medical Trends Survey 2025 — Survey report
|