Malaria Drug Prices in Nigeria (2026): Complete Price Guide
Malaria remains the leading cause of outpatient visits and a major cause of death in Nigeria, particularly among children under five and pregnant women. Every Nigerian household deals with malaria multiple times a year, making antimalarial drugs some of the most commonly purchased medications in the country.
But how much should you actually be paying? Prices vary wildly between brands, pharmacies, and cities. This guide breaks down the current 2026 prices for every major antimalarial available in Nigeria — from the WHO-recommended ACTs to injectable artesunate for severe malaria — so you can make informed purchasing decisions and avoid being overcharged.
Understanding Antimalarial Drug Classes
Before diving into prices, it helps to understand what you are buying. Nigeria's antimalarials fall into three main categories:
- Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) — the current gold standard recommended by the WHO and Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health for treating uncomplicated malaria. These combine an artemisinin derivative with a partner drug
- Artesunate injection — the first-line treatment for severe/complicated malaria, administered in hospitals
- Older antimalarials — chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP/Fansidar), which have limited roles due to resistance but are still widely available
1. Artemether-Lumefantrine (Coartem)
Artemether-lumefantrine is the most commonly prescribed ACT in Nigeria. It is the first-line treatment recommended by the WHO for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria — which accounts for over 95% of malaria cases in Nigeria.
2026 Prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Origin | Price Range (NGN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coartem | Novartis | Switzerland | 3,500 - 9,000 |
| Lonart | Greenlife Pharmaceuticals | India | 1,000 - 2,500 |
| Lumartem | Phillips Pharmaceuticals | India | 1,000 - 2,500 |
| Amatem | Elbe Pharma | Nigeria | 800 - 2,000 |
Bottom line: For the original Coartem brand, expect to pay ₦3,500 to ₦9,000. Locally manufactured and Indian generics like Lonart, Lumartem, and Amatem cost ₦800 to ₦2,500 and are equally effective — they contain the same active ingredients and are NAFDAC-registered. The generics represent the best value.
2. Artesunate Injection
Artesunate injection is the WHO-recommended first-line treatment for severe malaria. This is a hospital drug — it is administered intravenously or intramuscularly when a patient is too sick for oral medication (vomiting, unconscious, or with complications).
2026 Prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Origin | Price Range (NGN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artesunate | Guilin Pharmaceutical | China | 1,500 - 5,000 |
| Arinate | Meditab | Nigeria | 800 - 3,000 |
| Falcimon | Emcure | India | 500 - 2,000 |
Important: Artesunate injection should only be administered in a hospital or clinic by trained healthcare workers. The price per vial varies, and a full course of treatment typically requires multiple vials over 3 days, followed by a complete course of an oral ACT once the patient can swallow. Total cost for severe malaria treatment can range from ₦5,000 to ₦30,000+ depending on the facility and duration of hospitalisation.
3. Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine (P-Alaxin)
Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine is the second major ACT used in Nigeria. Its key advantage is the simpler dosing schedule — a 3-day course with once-daily dosing, compared to the twice-daily dosing of artemether-lumefantrine.
2026 Prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Origin | Price Range (NGN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| P-Alaxin | Greenlife Pharmaceuticals | India | 1,500 - 4,000 |
| Duo-Cotexcin | Holleykin Pharmaceutical | China | 2,000 - 5,000 |
| Arterakine | Pharm-Inter | Vietnam | 1,000 - 3,000 |
Bottom line: DHA-piperaquine costs roughly the same as artemether-lumefantrine. P-Alaxin is the most popular brand in Nigeria and is widely available. Some patients prefer it because of the once-daily dosing convenience.
4. Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (Fansidar/SP)
Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is no longer recommended as a treatment for malaria in most of Nigeria due to widespread parasite resistance. However, it remains critically important for one specific purpose: Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTp). Pregnant women receive SP doses during antenatal visits to prevent malaria, which reduces low birth weight and maternal anaemia.
2026 Prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Origin | Price Range (NGN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fansidar | Roche | Switzerland | 500 - 1,200 |
| Malareich | Swiss Pharma Nigeria | Nigeria | 200 - 600 |
| Maloxine | Danadams | Ghana | 150 - 500 |
Note: SP for IPTp is often provided free of charge at government antenatal clinics and primary healthcare centres in Nigeria. If you are pregnant, ask your antenatal clinic about free SP before purchasing it yourself.
5. Chloroquine
Chloroquine was once Nigeria's go-to antimalarial — affordable, widely available, and effective. Unfortunately, decades of overuse led to widespread Plasmodium falciparum resistance, and chloroquine was officially dropped as a first-line antimalarial treatment in Nigeria in favour of ACTs. However, chloroquine remains available in pharmacies and is still purchased by some Nigerians, either out of habit, affordability, or for the treatment of Plasmodium vivax malaria (rare in Nigeria).
2026 Prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Origin | Price Range (NGN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chloroquine | Emzor | Nigeria | 200 - 800 |
| Nivaquine | Sanofi | France | 500 - 1,500 |
| Malarivon | Evans Medical | Nigeria | 200 - 700 |
Warning: While chloroquine is the cheapest antimalarial on this list, it is no longer effective against most malaria in Nigeria. Using chloroquine for falciparum malaria risks treatment failure, which can lead to severe malaria and death. The small savings are not worth the risk. Use ACTs (artemether-lumefantrine or DHA-piperaquine) for malaria treatment.
Price Comparison Summary
| Drug | Cheapest Brand (NGN) | Most Expensive Brand (NGN) | Recommended? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artemether-Lumefantrine | 800 (Amatem) | 9,000 (Coartem) | YES — first-line |
| DHA-Piperaquine | 1,000 (Arterakine) | 5,000 (Duo-Cotexcin) | YES — first-line alternative |
| Artesunate injection | 500 (Falcimon) | 5,000+ (Guilin) | YES — severe malaria only |
| SP (Fansidar) | 150 (Maloxine) | 1,200 (Fansidar) | IPTp in pregnancy only |
| Chloroquine | 200 (generic) | 1,500 (Nivaquine) | NO — resistance |
How to Save Money on Antimalarials
- Buy NAFDAC-registered generics. A ₦1,500 Lonart tablet contains exactly the same artemether-lumefantrine as a ₦8,500 Coartem. The active ingredients, doses, and effectiveness are identical. Check our NAFDAC verification guide to confirm your generic is legitimate
- Use government health facilities. Many primary healthcare centres and general hospitals provide ACTs free or at heavily subsidised prices through the Global Fund and other malaria programmes
- Prevent malaria. The cheapest malaria treatment is the one you never need. Sleep under insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), use indoor residual spraying where available, and eliminate standing water around your home
- Complete the full course. Taking half a course of ACT to "save money" is a false economy — incomplete treatment risks recurrence, which means buying another course, and contributes to drug resistance
When to See a Doctor Instead of Self-Treating
While many Nigerians self-treat malaria with OTC antimalarials, certain situations require hospital care:
- Children under 5 with fever — malaria kills children fast; do not delay
- Pregnant women — malaria in pregnancy requires supervised treatment
- Vomiting and inability to keep oral drugs down
- Severe symptoms: confusion, seizures, difficulty breathing, very dark urine, extreme weakness
- Fever that does not respond to an ACT within 48 hours
For detailed information on each antimalarial, visit our antimalarials drug directory.