Nigerians living abroad are travelling to Nigeria for IVF because treatment costs less than in many Western countries. Dr Sunday Onuh, Co-Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the Abuja fertility conference, said patients from outside Africa are also choosing Nigeria for treatment.
Onuh said patients can achieve the same clinical results at a lower cost in Nigeria. “We are having people coming from outside the continent to Nigeria to have their fertility treatment, knowing that they can get the same results at a cheaper price,” he said.
Prof Preye Fiebai, President of the Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health, said the lower international cost does not make IVF affordable for many Nigerians. He attributed the high local price to the cost of providing treatment and difficult economic conditions.
Fiebai also identified imported pharmaceuticals as a major expense for fertility providers. “The major reason why the cost is high is because of the cost of providing the service,” he said.
He said the price difference has brought Nigerians from the diaspora to local fertility clinics. “Despite this high cost, IVF is cheaper than most of the places where we are coming from,” Fiebai said. “So we still have a lot of reverse medical tourism going on in the country.”
Beyond IVF, Nigerian clinics now offer fertility preservation services, including egg freezing. Dr Ibrahim Wada, AFRH Immediate Past President and Chairman of the conference Local Organising Committee, said the service gives women an option to preserve their fertility.
“Preserving your fertility is with us. It is very safe in Nigeria, and I think people should be encouraged,” Wada said. He also said Nigeria has developed its capacity to help people facing fertility challenges.
Fiebai urged the government and health insurers to provide financial support for patients who cannot afford IVF. He said safety nets could help more Nigerians access fertility treatment.
He also called for legislation covering assisted reproductive technology. According to Fiebai, fertility professionals approached the National Assembly in 2023 over a proposed bill covering the sector.
The 2nd African Federation of Fertility Societies and 16th AFRH International Fertility Conference will hold in Abuja from September 24 to 26. More than 1,000 fertility and reproductive health professionals are expected to attend, alongside representatives from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.
