…Only 10 Cath Labs Nationwide as Open-Heart Surgery Costs Hit N40m
As Nigeria joins the world in marking World Heart Day 2026, the country’s cardiovascular care system remains crippled by prohibitive costs, a severe shortage of specialists, and weak infrastructure, leaving millions of Nigerians without access to life-saving treatment.
CDA News Nigeria reports that the theme for this year’s World Heart Day, “Don’t Miss a Beat,” focuses on raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the world’s leading cause of death.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that the financial burden of cardiac care in Nigeria is staggering. According to findings by The Guardian, routine outpatient care averages between N319,200 and N421,596, while advanced procedures like open-heart surgery range from N9.4 million to over N40 million, depending on the facility and complexity. Diagnostic tests such as ECG and echocardiograms cost between N10,000 and N1.7 million per session.
The infrastructure deficit is equally dire. Catheterisation services are available in only 10 centres nationwide, mostly concentrated in urban areas, while stent insertion can cost between N12 million and N15 million.
Nigeria’s specialist shortage compounds the crisis. The country has fewer than 10 interventional cardiologists and fewer than 300 cardiac surgeons for a population exceeding 200 million. Cardiologists are also severely overstretched, with some attending to 20 to 50 patients daily, leading to delayed diagnoses and increased risk of medical errors.
With out-of-pocket expenditure accounting for about 76% of total health spending, many Nigerians are pushed into financial ruin seeking care. The case of one patient who died before raising N2 million of a N10 million aortic valve operation underscores the human cost.
The Federal Government has signed agreements to expand cardiac catheterisation labs nationwide, but for many Nigerians, access to affordable heart care remains a distant hope.
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