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The short answer
Neither General Hospital Onitsha nor most private clinics in the city publish a fee list online that we could find as at October 2026, so ask for an estimate at the cash office before treatment. Costs are built from a card or registration fee, consultation, tests, drugs and, for admission, a deposit. If you are enrolled with ASHIA, the state scheme, you were reported in 2025 to pay 10% of the cost of medicines at accredited facilities.
A visit to hospital in Onitsha can cost a few thousand naira or several hundred thousand, depending on what is wrong and where you go. Families are often caught out not by the consultation but by the tests, drugs and admission deposit that follow. Because we could not find published fee schedules for General Hospital Onitsha or the city's private clinics, this guide does not quote real prices. It explains how a bill is built, gives clearly labelled examples, and shows how insurance changes the picture.
How a hospital bill is built
| Item | Public hospital | Private clinic |
|---|---|---|
| Registration or card | Usually a one-off fee for a folder | Often a registration fee, sometimes yearly |
| Consultation | Often lower; may involve waiting | Higher; usually shorter waits |
| Laboratory tests | Charged per test | Charged per test, sometimes sent to outside labs |
| Drugs | From the hospital pharmacy or outside | Often dispensed in-house |
| Admission | Deposit, then daily bed and nursing charges | Deposit, then daily charges, often higher |
| Procedures | Theatre, anaesthesia and consumables billed separately | Same, frequently quoted as a package |
Ask for an itemised estimate before tests or admission. Most cash offices will give one, even if the final bill differs.
Example bills (labelled examples only)
Example 1: outpatient visit for fever
| Item | Public (example) | Private (example) |
|---|---|---|
| Card or registration | ₦2,000 | ₦5,000 |
| Consultation | ₦3,000 | ₦10,000 |
| Malaria test and full blood count | ₦6,000 | ₦9,000 |
| Drugs | ₦7,000 | ₦10,000 |
| Total | ₦18,000 | ₦34,000 |
Example 2: three-night admission
| Item | Public (example) | Private (example) |
|---|---|---|
| Admission deposit (credited to bill) | ₦50,000 | ₦150,000 |
| Bed and nursing, 3 nights | ₦30,000 | ₦90,000 |
| Tests | ₦20,000 | ₦35,000 |
| Drugs and drips | ₦40,000 | ₦60,000 |
| Final bill | ₦90,000 | ₦185,000 |
In Example 2 the deposit is credited against the bill: the public hospital patient pays ₦50,000 up front and ₦40,000 more at discharge (₦30,000 + ₦20,000 + ₦40,000 = ₦90,000); the private patient pays ₦150,000 up front and ₦35,000 more (₦90,000 + ₦35,000 + ₦60,000 = ₦185,000).
Admission deposits: plan for the lump sum
Deposits are the cost that most often forces families to borrow. They are rising across the country. As a reference point from another state, Blueprint reported in February 2026 that the University of Benin Teaching Hospital had raised its ICU admission deposit to ₦1,000,000 and set medical ward deposits at ₦150,000. Onitsha hospitals set their own amounts; ask when you arrive, and in an emergency, ask the hospital to begin treatment while the family arranges payment.
How ASHIA changes the cost
The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency runs the state scheme. Nigeria Health Watch reported in August 2025 an annual premium of ₦12,000, payable in instalments, and a 10% co-payment on medicines at accredited facilities, with the scheme covering common conditions. In Example 1 at a participating facility, the drugs line of ₦7,000 would cost the enrolee ₦700, and consultation within the benefit package would be covered. Check with ASHIA which Onitsha facilities are accredited and what is excluded; see ASHIA health insurance in Onitsha.
Public or private: choosing for the situation
The cheaper option is not always the better value. A public hospital usually has a wider range of specialists and facilities for serious cases, but queues can be long and some drugs or tests may need to be bought outside. A private clinic is often quicker for routine problems and keeps everything under one roof, at a higher price. Many families use a nearby clinic for minor illness and go to a public or larger hospital for anything that may need a specialist, surgery or a long stay.
- Minor illness, quick answer needed: a reputable clinic or your ASHIA primary facility.
- Pregnancy and childbirth: register early wherever you plan to deliver and ask for the full package cost.
- Serious or uncertain illness: a hospital with the specialists you may need, to avoid paying twice after a referral.
- Emergencies: the nearest facility that can stabilise the patient, then decide on transfer.
What to check first
- Ask the cash office for the card fee and consultation fee before you register.
- Ask for a written estimate before tests or admission.
- Ask whether drugs can be bought outside if the hospital pharmacy is out of stock, and buy only from a licensed pharmacy.
- Keep every receipt; you may need them for an insurer, employer or family members who contribute.
- If you are insured, show your enrolee ID at registration, not at discharge.
For checking pharmacies and medicines, see how to check a pharmacy is legitimate.
Where Pryme fits
An emergency fund kept in a Flexible Savings Box can be withdrawn when needed, which helps with deposits. Relatives abroad can hold pounds or dollars in a Pryme account and send naira to the hospital's account, with a record of each payment.
Questions people ask
How much is a hospital card at General Hospital Onitsha?
We could not find a published fee as at October 2026. Ask the hospital's cash office; card fees are usually a small one-off charge.
How much is admission deposit in Onitsha?
Each hospital sets its own deposit. Ask on arrival, and in an emergency ask for treatment to begin while payment is arranged.
Is private hospital in Onitsha expensive?
Private clinics usually charge more for consultation and admission than public hospitals, in exchange for shorter waits. Ask for an itemised estimate.
Does ASHIA cover treatment in Onitsha hospitals?
At accredited facilities, ASHIA enrolees were reported in 2025 to pay 10% of the cost of medicines, with common conditions covered. Confirm which facilities are accredited.
Sources
- Nigeria Health Watch: ASHIA cracks the code on health insurance for Anambra's informal sector (11 Aug 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Blueprint: UBTH increases intensive care admission deposit to N1m (23 Feb 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.