Nigeria Sees 68% Online Traditional-Medicine Interest as Social Media Drives Risky Herbal Self-Medication
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 31
Nigeria Sees 68% Online Traditional-Medicine Interest as Social Media Drives Risky Herbal Self-Medication
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 31
Doctors and pharmacists in Nigeria say social media-fueled self-medication with unverified herbal remedies is worsening illness, delaying hospital care and exposing patients to unsafe products.
68% of patients in a 2025 study said they were willing to consult traditional practitioners online, reflecting how TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X have become an “algorithmic apothecary” for health advice.
Cases cited by Al Jazeera include a woman who developed breathing problems after taking a fertility supplement and another whose Facebook-bought eye treatment worsened her vision.
Health workers say the trend is reinforced by expensive care, weak trust in formal medicine and a strained system serving about 230 million people; dialysis alone can cost 50,000-100,000 naira per session.
NAFDAC says it fines noncompliant manufacturers, but fake addresses and the volume of online listings limit enforcement, leaving regulators and doctors urging stronger platform accountability and safer access to care.
As fake online remedies cripple Nigerians, can regulators win the fight against social media's 'algorithmic apothecary'?
Is Nigeria's deadly online remedy crisis a symptom of a completely broken healthcare system?
The Digital Wild West: 76% of Nigerians Turn to Online Herbal Medicine Amid Health Risks and Weak Oversight
Overview
Nigerians are increasingly turning to online platforms to access traditional medicine, driven by a growing herbal medicine market and the expansion of digital channels. This shift is fueled by broader health challenges like drug resistance and late hospital admissions, making traditional remedies seem more accessible. However, weak online enforcement has led to a surge in unverified products, raising serious consumer safety concerns. As digital platforms play a crucial role in distributing these remedies, users face greater risks of encountering unsafe or counterfeit products, highlighting the urgent need for stronger regulation and oversight in Nigeria’s digital health space.