Essential medicines in Nigeria
The WHO's essential-medicines list names the drugs every health system should have — but it can't tell you what they cost in Nigeria, or which brands here are genuine. This page does, for the 82 essential medicines we cover: current pharmacy prices (sampled October 2026), NAFDAC-registered brand counts, and free verification for each.
Buying for a hospital, chain, or programme? Tap + quote beside each medicine you need as you read — then turn the list into a printable request for quotation.
Allergy
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorpheniramine | varies | 23 |
| Loratadine | ~₦1,000 online (tablets) | 22 |
Anti-HIV/ARVs
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Lamivudine | varies | — |
| Lopinavir/Ritonavir | varies | 1 |
| Tenofovir/Lamivudine/Dolutegravir | varies | 4 |
Anti-Tuberculosis
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Isoniazid | varies | 3 |
| Rifampicin | varies | — |
Antibiotics
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Amoxicillin | varies | 38 |
| Amoxicillin-Clavulanate | ~₦13,700 online (tablets) | 89 |
| Azithromycin | ~₦3,800 online | 72 |
| Ceftazidime | varies | 4 |
| Ceftriaxone | varies | 92 |
| Ciprofloxacin | ~₦6,210 online (tablets) | 75 |
| Co-trimoxazole (Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim) | varies | 33 |
| Doxycycline | varies | 12 |
| Erythromycin | ~₦1,630 online | 20 |
| Gentamicin | ~₦1,560 online (cream) | 26 |
| Metronidazole | ~₦2,645 online (tablets) | 61 |
Antifungals
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Fluconazole | ~₦3,700 online | 46 |
| Griseofulvin | ~₦7,750 online (tablets) | 6 |
Antimalarials
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Artemether | ~₦3,050 online | 44 |
| Artemether-Lumefantrine | ~₦3,615 online | 288 |
| Artesunate | varies | 51 |
| Artesunate-Amodiaquine | varies | 10 |
| Chloroquine | varies | 14 |
| Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine | varies | 24 |
| Hydroxychloroquine | varies | 1 |
| Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine | varies | 10 |
Antiparasitics
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Albendazole | ~₦1,488 online (tablets) | 33 |
| Ivermectin | ~₦12,000 online | 2 |
| Mebendazole | ~₦4,738 online (tablets) | 3 |
| Praziquantel | varies | 1 |
Antivirals
Blood Thinners
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Aspirin | ~₦13,800 online | 7 |
| Clopidogrel | ~₦4,150 online | 23 |
Cholesterol
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Atorvastatin | ~₦5,100 online | 28 |
| Simvastatin | varies | — |
Dermatology
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Clotrimazole | ~₦13,475 online (cream) | 17 |
| Hydrocortisone | ~₦2,000 online | 20 |
Diabetes
Digestive Health
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Loperamide | varies | 29 |
| Omeprazole | ~₦2,200 online | 63 |
| Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) | ~₦850 online | 3 |
Epilepsy
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Carbamazepine | varies | 12 |
| Levetiracetam | varies | 3 |
| Sodium Valproate | varies | 1 |
Eye & Ear Drops
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Chloramphenicol (eye & ear drops) | ~₦875 online | 9 |
| Timolol (glaucoma eye drops) | ~₦3,850 online | 9 |
Family Planning
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Combined Oral Contraceptives | ~₦3,550 online (tablets) | 1 |
| Levonorgestrel (emergency contraception) | ~₦2,880 online | 10 |
| Medroxyprogesterone acetate (injectable contraceptive) | varies | 3 |
Hypertension
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Amlodipine | ~₦1,750 online (a pack of 28–30) | 54 |
| Atenolol | ~₦3,150 online | 10 |
| Furosemide | ~₦2,000 online | 9 |
| Hydrochlorothiazide | varies | 2 |
| Labetalol | ~₦19,850 online | 2 |
| Lisinopril | ~₦1,120 online | 42 |
| Losartan | ~₦1,900 online | 29 |
| Nifedipine | varies | 8 |
| Spironolactone | varies | 7 |
Mental Health
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Amitriptyline | varies | 1 |
| Fluoxetine | varies | 1 |
| Sertraline | varies | — |
Pain & Fever
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Diclofenac | ~₦10,925 online (tablets) | 114 |
| Ibuprofen | ~₦1,000 online (tablets) | 51 |
| Paracetamol | ~₦688 online (a strip) | 77 |
Reproductive Health
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Mifepristone | varies | — |
| Misoprostol | varies | 8 |
| Norethisterone | varies | 1 |
| Tranexamic acid | varies | 5 |
Respiratory
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Dexamethasone | ~₦2,500 online (drops) | 54 |
| Prednisolone | ~₦3,663 online (drops) | 14 |
| Salbutamol | varies | 7 |
Sickle Cell
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Hydroxyurea | varies | 3 |
Vitamins & Supplements
| Medicine | Price | Listings |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrous Fumarate | ~₦6,100 online (tablets) | 11 |
| Ferrous Sulfate | ~₦5,750 online (a pack of 28–30) | 11 |
| Folic Acid | ~₦1,100 online (syrup) | 5 |
| Vitamin A | varies | 3 |
| Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) | varies | 58 |
| Zinc Supplement | ~₦19,720 online | 12 |
Flags align to the 23rd WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (2023). Prices are sampled monthly from licensed Nigerian online pharmacies and span brands and pack sizes — indicative only. Registration counts are from our copy of the NAFDAC Greenbook (October 2026); listings can lag renewals. Official lists: WHO Model List and Nigeria's Essential Medicines List (Federal Ministry of Health).
Procuring essential medicines in volume?
Hospitals, NGOs, and programme buyers: build a numbered, printable request for quotation and we'll source quotes from verified, NAFDAC-registered sellers.
Frequently asked questions
Essential medicines are the drugs the World Health Organization judges to satisfy the priority health needs of a population — chosen for efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness. The WHO Model List guides governments worldwide; Nigeria maintains its own national Essential Medicines List based on it, which shapes what public hospitals and primary health centres stock.
No — the full WHO Model List runs to several hundred items, and Nigeria's national list is similarly long. This page covers the essential medicines Ogbogwu has full guides for, adding what the official PDFs can't: current Nigerian prices, NAFDAC-registered brands, and free verification. For the complete official lists, see the WHO Model List and Nigeria's Essential Medicines List from the Federal Ministry of Health.
Often, but not automatically. Essential-list status drives generic competition — paracetamol, metformin, and amlodipine have dozens of registered brands and low prices — but market prices still vary widely by brand, pack size, and location. The prices shown here are sampled monthly from licensed Nigerian online pharmacies, so you can judge each medicine on current figures rather than assumptions.