When you live abroad, the hardest part of a parent or relative falling ill back home isn't the distance — it's the helplessness. You get the worried phone call, but you can't drive them to a clinic, sit in the waiting room, or make sure they actually see a good doctor. The good news: you can now do the next best thing from wherever you are. You can book a verified Nigerian doctor for your relative and pay for it yourself, in a few minutes.
Here's exactly how it works.
The simple version
On Lonia, you create one account, add your relative as a family member, book a doctor and time, and pay with your own card. Your relative simply joins the video call from home in Nigeria. You arrange and pay for everything from abroad; the care is delivered to them in Nigeria by a Nigerian-licensed doctor.
Step by step
1. Create a free account. Sign up with your email — it takes a couple of minutes and works from anywhere in the world.
2. Add your family member. In your profile, add your parent, sibling or child as a dependent — their name, relationship and date of birth. They don't need their own account or to set anything up. One account can hold several relatives, so you can manage the whole family in one place.
3. Choose a doctor and time. Browse verified doctors — general practitioners for everyday concerns, or specialists like a cardiologist or endocrinologist for ongoing conditions. Pick a time slot that suits your relative.
4. Pay with your card. At checkout you'll see the doctor's consultation fee up front. Payment is handled securely and accepts international Visa, Mastercard and Verve cards. You're charged in Nigerian Naira and your bank does the currency conversion — there's nothing extra to set up.
5. Your relative is seen at home. They receive the consultation link and join the secure video call from their phone or computer in Nigeria. If they need help getting on the call, you can talk them through it beforehand.
What a video consultation can and can't do
Video consultations work well for the majority of everyday and ongoing concerns — check-ups, blood-pressure and diabetes management, malaria and typhoid follow-up, women's and children's health, mental health, and repeat prescriptions. If the doctor decides your relative needs a physical examination, a test, or emergency care, they'll say so and direct you to in-person care. For a true emergency, your relative should go straight to the nearest hospital — telemedicine is not for emergencies.
If the doctor prescribes medication
After the consultation, the doctor can issue a digitally signed prescription. You can then order the medicine for delivery to your relative's door anywhere in Nigeria — again, paid by you. So a single visit can go from "I'm worried about Mum" to "Mum's been seen and her medication is on the way," without you leaving your desk.
How much does it cost?
There's no subscription and no membership. You pay per consultation, and the fee is set by each doctor and shown clearly before you pay — general practitioners are the most affordable, specialists cost more. You only pay for what you use.
Frequently asked questions
Can I really pay for my parents' doctor visit in Nigeria from abroad? Yes. You create the account, add your parent, book the doctor and pay with your international card — all from abroad. Your parent just joins the call at home.
Do my relatives need their own smartphone account? No. You add them as dependents under your account and book on their behalf. They only need to join the video link when it's time.
Which cards can I use? International Visa, Mastercard and Verve, via secure checkout. You pay in Naira; your bank handles the conversion.
Are the doctors qualified? Every doctor is MDCN-verified and admin-approved before they can see patients.
Ready to set it up? Add your family and book a consultation →